Collins English-English Dictionary

differential ["dɪfə'rεnʃəl]

1. 1. adj of, relating to, or using a difference

2. 2. adj constituting a difference; distinguishing

3. 3. adj [maths] of, containing, or involving one or more derivatives or differentials

4. 4. adj [Physics] [Engineering] relating to, operating on, or based on the difference between two effects, motions, forces, etc

   differential amplifier

5. 5. n a factor that differentiates between two comparable things

6. 6. n [maths] an increment in a given function, expressed as the product of the derivative of that function and the corresponding increment in the independent variable

7. 7. n an increment in a given function of two or more variables, f(x₁, x₂, x_n), expressed as the sum of the products of each partial derivative and the increment in the corresponding variable

8. 8. n an epicyclic gear train that permits two shafts to rotate at different speeds while being driven by a third shaft - See also differential gear

9. 9. n [chiefly Brit] the difference between rates of pay for different types of labour, esp when forming a pay structure within an industry

10. 10. n (in commerce) a difference in rates, esp between comparable labour services or transportation routes