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DIFFERENTIAL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
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
Synonyms:
differential; differential gear
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("differential" is a kind of...):
bevel gear; pinion and crown wheel; pinion and ring gear (gears that mesh at an angle)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A quality that differentiates between similar things
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("differential" is a kind of...):
difference (the quality of being unlike or dissimilar)
Derivation:
differential (relating to or showing a difference)
Sense 3
Meaning:
The result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx
Synonyms:
derivative; derived function; differential; differential coefficient; first derivative
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("differential" is a kind of...):
calculation; computation; figuring; reckoning (problem solving that involves numbers or quantities)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "differential"):
curvature (the rate of change (at a point) of the angle between a curve and a tangent to the curve)
partial; partial derivative (the derivative of a function of two or more variables with respect to a single variable while the other variables are considered to be constant)
Derivation:
differential (involving or containing one or more derivatives)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Relating to or showing a difference
Example:
differential treatment
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Pertainym:
difference (the quality of being unlike or dissimilar)
Derivation:
difference (the quality of being unlike or dissimilar)
difference (a significant change)
differential (a quality that differentiates between similar things)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Involving or containing one or more derivatives
Example:
differential equation
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Domain category:
math; mathematics; maths (a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement)
Pertainym:
differentiation (the mathematical process of obtaining the derivative of a function)
Derivation:
differential (the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx)
Context examples:
A unit for percentage measurement of fraction of any type of white blood cells in the total white blood cell count differential.
(Percent in White Blood Count Differential, NCI Thesaurus)
Morphologically, the differential diagnosis from parathyroid gland adenoma may be difficult.
(Parathyroid Gland Carcinoma, NCI Thesaurus)
Ran plays a similar role in each of these processes, regulating downstream signaling pathways in a differential manner based on whether GDP or GTP is bound.
(Mitotic Spindle Regulation Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)
This pattern of expression is comprised of unique clusters of genes and proteins that display differential levels of expression.
(Molecular Signature, NCI Thesaurus)
Morphologically, there is melanocytic atypia and the differential diagnosis from melanoma may be difficult.
(Dysplastic nevus, NCI Thesaurus)
Two isoforms of the EWS protein are produced by differential splicing.
(Ewing Sarcoma Breakpoint Region 1 Protein, NCI Thesaurus)
A hematologic procedure to determine the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, including the white cell differential count and red cell morphology, in a blood sample.
(Blood cell count with differential, NCI Thesaurus)
Also called blood cell count with differential.
(CBC with differential, NCI Dictionary)
The image is thus the result of the differential absorption of X-rays by different tissues.
(Digital Subtraction Angiography, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)
The band pattern is the result of differential interactions between the dye and nonadjacent chromosomal regions.
(Chromosome Band, NCI Thesaurus)
