del

¹ American  

[del] / dɛl /

1. (in names of Spanish derivation) a contraction of de and the article el:

   Estanislao del Campo.

2. (in names of Italian derivation) a contraction of di and the article il: Giovanni del Monte.

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del ² American  

[del] / dɛl /

noun

Mathematics.

1. a differential operator. ∇

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del. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. delegate; delegation.

2. delete; deletion.

3. delineavit.

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Del. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. Delaware.

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Del. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Delaware

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del. ² British  

abbreviation

1. delegate

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del ³ British  

/ dɛl /

noun

1.  ∇.  Also called: nabla.  maths the differential operator i (∂/∂ x ) + j (∂/∂ y ) + k (∂/∂ z ), where i , j , and k are unit vectors in the x , y , and z directions

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Etymology

Origin of del

First recorded in 1900–05; short form of delta

Example Sentences

Dirigiéndose a los asistentes, la editora ejecutiva del Times, Terry Tang, destacó la amplitud de la programación del fin de semana como una oportunidad para conectar y descubrir.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

Spain is still the most popular destination for British tourists, according to ABTA, but more are venturing beyond Barcelona or the Costa del Sol.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

And on Saturday, it will face Atlético in the final of the Copa del Rey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

The study team included experts from the Universidad del Rosario in Colombia, the Clínica Universitaria de Navarra and Universitat de Valencia in Spain, and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

Following his shoemaking phase, Cleofes began to traipse around the county carrying a little statue of Santa Inez del Campo, who was supposed to find missing animals.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols