differential

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. adj. Of, relating to, or showing a difference.
2. adj. Constituting or making a difference; distinctive.
3. adj. Dependent on or making use of a specific difference or distinction.
4. adj. Mathematics Of or relating to differentiation.
5. adj. Involving differences in speed or direction of motion.
6. n. Mathematics An infinitesimal increment in a variable.
7. n. Mathematics The product of the derivative of a function containing one variable and the increment of the independent variable.
8. n. Differential gear.
9. n. A difference between comparable things, as in wage rate or in price.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Making or exhibiting a difference or distinction; discriminating; distinguishing; special.
2. Having or exhibiting a difference.
3. In mathematics, pertaining to a differential or differentials, or to mathematical processes in which they are employed.
4. n. In math.: An infinitesimal difference between two values of a variable quantity. In the differential and integral calculus, if two or more quantities are dependent on one another, and subject to variations of value, their corresponding differentials are any other quantities whose ratios to one another are the limits to which the ratios of the variations approximate, as these variations are reduced nearer and nearer to zero; but the differentials are commonly understood to be infinitesimal.
5. n. A logarithmic tangent.
6. n. In boil., a morphological difference; a distinction or distinctive characteristic of form or structure: correlated with equivalent.
7. In mech.: So constructed that the resulting motion is the algebraic sum of two unequal motions in opposite directions. The resistance moves through a path which is the difference of two velocities impressed by the applied force. Hence a slow motion of the resistance is the consequence of the moving force acting through a considerable space, and a small moving force overcomes great resistance. Used in hoisting-pulleys, double screws, and similar devices.
8. Having differing velocities, as automobile driving-shafts when rounding corners and curves, and rollers for grinding grain.
9. Selective; having different effects upon different kinds of material: as, differential weathering.

Wiktionary

1. adj. of, or relating to a difference
2. adj. dependent on, or making a difference; distinctive
3. adj. having differences in speed or direction of motion
4. adj. mathematics of, or relating to differentiation, or the differential calculus
5. n. the differential gear in an automobile etc
6. n. a qualitative or quantitative difference between similar or comparable things
7. n. mathematics an infinitesimal change in a variable, or the result of differentiation

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adj. Relating to or indicating a difference; creating a difference; discriminating; special.
2. adj. (Math.) Of or pertaining to a differential, or to differentials.
3. adj. (Mech.) Relating to differences of motion or leverage; producing effects by such differences; said of mechanism.
4. n. (Math.) An increment, usually an indefinitely small one, which is given to a variable quantity.
5. n. A small difference in rates which competing railroad lines, in establishing a common tariff, allow one of their number to make, in order to get a fair share of the business. The lower rate is called a differential rate. Differentials are also sometimes granted to cities.
6. n. One of two coils of conducting wire so related to one another or to a magnet or armature common to both, that one coil produces polar action contrary to that of the other.
7. n. A form of conductor used for dividing and distributing the current to a series of electric lamps so as to maintain equal action in all.

WordNet 3.0

1. adj. involving or containing one or more derivatives
2. n. the result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx
3. n. 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
4. adj. relating to or showing a difference
5. n. a quality that differentiates between similar things