Partial fractions

partial par"tial (p[aum]r"shal), a. [F., fr. LL. partials, fr. L. pars, gen. partis, a part; cf. (for sense 1) F. partiel. See {Part}, n.] 1. Of, pertaining to, or affecting, a part only; not general or universal; not total or entire; as, a partial eclipse of the moon. ``Partial dissolutions of the earth.'' --T. Burnet. [1913 Webster]

2. Inclined to favor one party in a cause, or one side of a question, more then the other; biased; not indifferent; as, a judge should not be partial. [1913 Webster]

Ye have been partial in the law. --Mal. ii. 9. [1913 Webster]

3. Having a predilection for; inclined to favor unreasonably; foolishly fond. ``A partial parent.'' --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Not partial to an ostentatious display. --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

4. (Bot.) Pertaining to a subordinate portion; as, a compound umbel is made up of a several partial umbels; a leaflet is often supported by a partial petiole. [1913 Webster]

{Partial differentials}, {Partial differential coefficients}, {Partial differentiation}, etc. (of a function of two or more variables), the differentials, differential coefficients, differentiation etc., of the function, upon the hypothesis that some of the variables are for the time constant.

{Partial fractions} (Alg.), fractions whose sum equals a given fraction.

{Partial tones} (Music), the simple tones which in combination form an ordinary tone; the overtones, or harmonics, which, blending with a fundamental tone, cause its special quality of sound, or timbre, or tone color. See, also, {Tone}. [1913 Webster]