Dictionary Definition
differential adj
1 relating to or showing a difference;
"differential treatment"
2 involving or containing one or more
derivatives; "differential equation"
Noun
1 the result of mathematical differentiation; the
instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx
[syn: derived
function, derivative, differential
coefficient, first
derivative]
2 a quality that differentiates between similar
things
3 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 [syn: differential
gear]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Adjective
differential- of, or relating to a difference
- dependent on, or making a difference; distinctive
- having differences in speed or direction of motion
- of, or relating to differentiation, or the differential calculus
Translations
relating to a difference
- Swedish: differens-
dependent on
having differences in speed
relating to differentiation or differential
calculus
- Czech: diferenciální
- Hungarian: differenciál
- Swedish: differential-
Noun
- the differential gear in an automobile etc
- a qualitative or quantitative difference between similar or comparable things
- an infinitesimal change in a variable, or the result of differentiation
Derived terms
Translations
differential gear
- Swedish: differential
difference between similar or comparable
things
infitesimal change
- Hungarian: differenciál
- Swedish: differential
Swedish
Noun
differential- In the context of "mechanics|lang=sv": a differential gear
- In the context of "math|lang=sv}} an infinitesimal change
Extensive Definition
Differential may refer to:
Medicine
- Differential diagnosis refers to the characterization of the underlying cause of pathological states based on specific tests.
- Differential WBC count is the enumeration of each type of white blood cells either manually or using automated analyzers.
Mathematics
- Differential (calculus), multiple related meanings in calculus and differential geometry, such as an infinitesimal change in the value of a function
-
- In traditional approaches to calculus, the differential of a function represents an infinitesimal change in its value and employs the dx, dy, dt, symbols.
- In differential geometry, differentials represent the exterior derivatives of the coordinate functions on a differentiable manifold.
- Differential (coboundary), in homological algebra and algebraic topology, one of the maps of a cochain complex
- Differential (cryptography), in differential cryptanalysis, a pair consisting of the difference, usually computed by XOR (exclusive or), between two plaintexts, and the difference of the corresponding ciphertexts
- ''See also derivative, differential calculus.
Natural sciences and engineering
- Differential (mechanical device). As part of a powertrain, the device that allows each of the driving wheels to rotate at different speeds.
- Electronic Differential, an electric motor controller which substitutes its mechanical counterpart with significant advantages in electric vehicle application.
- In electronics, differential signaling applies to a method of transmitting electronic signals over a pair of wires to improve noise immunity.
Social sciences
- Semantic and structural differentials in psychology
- A quality spread differential in finance
- Compensating differential in labor economics
Other uses
The word differential is also used in many fields
as an adjective to refer to differences, particularly those of a
variable or continuous
nature. Examples include differential
hardening in metallurgy, differential
rotation in astronomy, differential
centrifugation in cell biology,
differential scanning calorimetry in materials science,
differential signalling in communications, differential
algebra in mathematics, differential
execution in computer science, and differential
GPS technology.
differential in Bosnian: Diferencijal
(čvor)
differential in Bulgarian: Диференциал
(пояснение)
differential in Czech: Diferenciál
differential in German: Differential
differential in Dutch: Differentieel
differential in Russian: Дифференциал
differential in Slovak: Diferenciál
differential in Turkish: Diferansiyel (anlam
ayrım)
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
Hydromatic, accurate, algorismic, algorithmic, aliquot, appreciative, aroma, attribute, automatic
transmission, badge,
brand, cachet, cardinal, cast, categorical, character, characteristic, characterizing, classificational,
classificatory,
cogwheel, configuration, contrastive, critical, cut, decimal, defining, delicacy, delicate, delicate distinction,
denominative,
diacritical,
diagnostic, differencing, differentia, differential
gear, differentiative,
digital, discriminate, discriminating, discriminative, distinction, distinctive, distinctive
feature, distinguishing, divisional, divisionary, earmark, even, exact, exponential, fastidious, feature, figural, figurate, figurative, figure, fine, fine point, finite, flavor, fractional, freewheel, gear, gear train, gearbox, gearing, gearshift, gearwheel, gust, hairline, hallmark, high, idiocrasy, idiosyncrasy, idiosyncratic, imaginary, impair, impossible, impress, impression, index, individualism, individualizing,
individuating,
infinite, integral, intermediate, irrational, keynote, lineaments, logarithmic, logometric, low, mannerism, margin, mark, marking, mold, narrow margin, nature, negative, neutral, nice, nice distinction, nicety, nuance, numeral, numerary, numerative, numeric, odd, odor, ordinal, overdrive, pair, particle of difference,
particular, particularity, peculiar, peculiarity, personalizing, point of
difference, positive,
possible, precise, prejudiced, prime, property, quality, quirk, rack, radical, rational, real, reciprocal, refined, refinement, reverse, savor, seal, selective, sensitive, separative, shade of
difference, shape,
singularity,
smack, special, specialty, specific, stamp, standard transmission,
stick shift, subdivisional, submultiple, subtle, subtle distinction,
subtlety, surd, synchromesh, tactful, taint, tang, taste, taxonomic, token, trait, transcendental, transmission, trick, typal, typical, wide
margin