2. Inclined to favor one party in a cause, or one side of a
question, more then the other; baised; not indifferent;
as, a judge should not be partial.
Ye have been partial in the law. --Mal. ii. 9.
3. Having a predelection for; inclined to favor unreasonably;
foolishly fond. ``A partial parent.'' --Pope.
Not partial to an ostentatious display. --Sir W.
Scott.
4. (Bot.) Pertaining to a subordinate portion; as, a compound
umbel is made up of a several partial umbels; a leaflet is
often supported by a partial petiole.
{Partial differentials}, {Partial differential coefficients},
{Partial differentiation}, etc. (of a function of two or more
variables), the differentials, differential coefficients,
differentiation etc., of the function, upon the hypothesis
that some of the variables are for the time constant.
{Partial fractions} (Alg.), fractions whose sum equals a
given fraction.
{Partial tones} (Music), the simple tones which in
combination form an ordinary tone; the overtones, or
harmonics, which, blending with a fundamental tone, cause
its special quality of sound, or timbre, or tone color.
See, also, {Tone}.