differential

[ dif-uh-ren-shuhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to difference or diversity.
2. constituting a difference; distinguishing; distinctive:

   a differential feature.

3. exhibiting or depending upon a difference or distinction.
4. Physics, Machinery. pertaining to or involving the difference of two or more motions, forces, etc.
5. Mathematics. pertaining to or involving a derivative or derivatives.

noun

1. a difference or the amount of difference, as in rate, cost, quantity, degree, or quality, between things that are comparable.
2. Also called differential gear. Machinery. an epicyclic train of gears designed to permit two or more shafts to rotate at different speeds, as a set of gears in an automobile permitting the rear wheels to be driven at different speeds when the car is turning.
3. Mathematics.
   1. a function of two variables that is obtained from a given function, y = f ( x ), and that expresses the approximate increment in the given function as the derivative of the function times the increment in the independent variable, written as dy = f′ ( x ) dx.
   2. any generalization of this function to higher dimensions.
4. Commerce.
   1. the difference involved in a differential rate.
   2. differential rate.
5. Physics. the quantitative difference between two or more forces, motions, etc.:

   a pressure differential.

differential

/ ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or using a difference
2. constituting a difference; distinguishing
3. maths of, containing, or involving one or more derivatives or differentials
4. physics engineering relating to, operating on, or based on the difference between two effects, motions, forces, etc

   differential amplifier

noun

1. a factor that differentiates between two comparable things
2. maths
   1. an increment in a given function, expressed as the product of the derivative of that function and the corresponding increment in the independent variable
   2. an increment in a given function of two or more variables, f( x 1 , x 2 , … xn ), expressed as the sum of the products of each partial derivative and the increment in the corresponding variable
3. an epicyclic gear train that permits two shafts to rotate at different speeds while being driven by a third shaft See also differential gear
4. the difference between rates of pay for different types of labour, esp when forming a pay structure within an industry
5. (in commerce) a difference in rates, esp between comparable labour services or transportation routes

differential

/ dĭf′ə-rĕn′shəl /

1. An infinitesimal increment in a variable.
2. The product of the derivative of a function of one variable and the increment of the independent variable.

Derived Forms

• ˌdifferˈentially, adverb

Other Words From

• differ·ential·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of differential¹

1640–50; < Medieval Latin differentiālis, equivalent to differenti ( a ) difference + ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

This compares with just three touchdowns for Watson and accounts for the entire differential in the two QBs’ career TD totals.

From FiveThirtyEight

Graphing functions include basic function graphing, parametric graphing, polar graphing, sequence graphing, 3-D graphing, and differential-equation graphing.

From Popular-Science

They are 3 points behind Watford, and the two teams have the same goal differential.

From FiveThirtyEight

Leicester won 12 of its first 16 matches and even had a better goal differential than the pace-setting Reds over that same stretch.

From FiveThirtyEight

Since the law’s passage, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and federal courts have come to understand a broader definition of sex discrimination, covering motherhood, differential pension programs, pregnancy and sexual harassment.

From No Straight News

He majored in mathematical physics, studying mind-bending theories of quantum mechanics and partial differential equations.

From The Daily Beast

Tiebreakers are goal differential, greatest number of goals scored, and, further down, the drawing of lots.

From The Daily Beast

Then, the U.S. and Portugal would be tied in points, goal differential, and goals scored.

From The Daily Beast

That differential accounted for about 60 percent of the downward revision.

From The Daily Beast

The efforts are proceeding slowly and tentatively because the price differential of the fuel is only one factor to consider.

From The Daily Beast

A record is generally kept of the number of nucleated red cells seen during a differential count of leukocytes.

From Project Gutenberg

The differential count is best made upon a film stained with Wright's, Jenner's, or Ehrlich's stain.

From Project Gutenberg

Jenner's stain, which gives a somewhat similar picture, is preferred by many for differential counting of leukocytes.

From Project Gutenberg

The principal source of the irregularities was found in the concealed upper differential wheel of the Grubb slow motion.

From Project Gutenberg

You,” said I. “You drive a nail as if it were an abstruse problem in differential calculus.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• biased
• bigoted
• counterproductive
• damaging
• detrimental
• disadvantageous
• discriminatory
• hurtful
• inimical
• injurious
• unfavorable
• unjust