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say it: dif-ur-EN-shuhl
differential is a noun and adjective meaning "the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx". It carries 5 recorded senses.
the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx
a quality that differentiates between similar things
a bevel gear that permits rotation of two shafts at different speeds; used on the rear axle of automobiles to allow wheels to rotate at different speeds on curves
relating to or showing a difference
“differential treatment”
involving or containing one or more derivatives
“differential equation”
mathematics
Forms marked · are formed by the regular rule rather than recorded in the source data. English keeps a few hundred irregulars and the rest follow the pattern, so the rule is right far more often than not — but it is a rule, and the mark says so.
Definitions, synonyms and semantic relations for differential come from Princeton University’s WordNet. The pronunciation comes from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. Commonness is measured against a corpus of everyday English. Full sources and licences.