Pronunciation: [pˈɑːʃə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "partial" is spelled with the letter "p" followed by "a-r-t-i-a-l". The pronunciation of this word is /ˈpɑːʃəl/. The "p" is pronounced with puff of air at the beginning of the word, followed by the vowel sound "a" which is pronounced with the tongue low in the mouth. The "r" is pronounced with a slight roll or tap of the tongue. The following sounds "t-i-a-l" are pronounced with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth.
The term "partial" can be defined as an adjective with several connotations. Firstly, it may describe something that is biased or inclined towards a particular person, side, or opinion. This bias can be seen in situations where one does not exhibit complete fairness or impartiality. For instance, if a judge shows favoritism towards one party in a lawsuit, their decision may be considered partial. Similarly, in relationships or friendships, showing partiality can lead to favoring one person over another, resulting in imbalanced dynamics.
Additionally, "partial" can describe something that is incomplete or unfinished. This meaning is often used in the context of work or projects, referring to a stage that is not yet fully developed or requires further attention. For example, a partial solution to a complex problem signifies that more steps or actions are needed to reach a complete resolution.
In mathematics, a "partial" is a derivative, representing the rate at which a function changes with respect to one variable while holding others constant. This concept is crucial for understanding multivariable functions and is denoted by the symbol (∂).
Furthermore, "partial" can imply a certain degree or limited portion of something. This usage is commonly applied to describe a lack of completeness or entirety. For instance, having partial knowledge or understanding means possessing only a limited grasp of a subject. Similarly, if someone has partial control over a situation, it indicates that they have some level of authority or influence, but not full command.
Overall, the term "partial" encompasses a range of meanings, reflecting bias, incompleteness, variable differentiation, and limited extent.
Incomplete, consisting of a part only.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Inclined to favour one party in a cause, or one side of a question, more than another, irrespective of principle or justice; unduly biassed or prejudiced; not general or universal; in familiar language, inclined more strongly towards one thing than another; in bot., applied to a subordinate part in some general arrangement.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "partial" originated from the Latin term "partialis", which means "pertaining to a part". It is derived from the Latin word "pars", meaning "part". The term "partial" entered the English vocabulary in the late 14th century, originating from the Old French adjective "partial" or "parcial", which held the same meaning.
