[ ˌdɪfə'rɛnʃ(ə)l ]
chiefly technical
■ adjective
1》 constituting or depending on a difference; varying according to circumstances or relevant factors.
2》 Mathematics relating to infinitesimal differences or to the derivatives of functions.
■ noun
1》 a difference.
↘ Brit. a difference in wages between industries or between categories of employees in the same industry.
↘ Mathematics an infinitesimal difference between successive values of a variable.
2》 a gear allowing a vehicle's driven wheels to revolve at different speeds in cornering.
Derivatives
~ly adverb