partial

The definition of partial is something that is incomplete or part of a whole, or to describe something for which you have a liking.

(adjective)

The first chapter of a long book is an example of a partial sample of the book.
When you like fresh flowers, this is an example of a situation where you are partial to fresh flowers.

See partial in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

Origin: ME parcial < MFr partial < LL partialis < L pars, part

noun

Related Forms:

See partial in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Of, relating to, being, or affecting only a part; not total; incomplete: The plan calls for partial deployment of missiles. The police have only a partial description of the suspect.
Favoring one person or side over another or others; biased or prejudiced: a decision that was partial to the plaintiff.
Having a particular liking or fondness for something or someone: partial to spicy food.
Mathematics Of or being operations or sequences of operations, such as differentiation and integration, when applied to only one of several variables at a time.

noun