— partially , adv. — partialness , n.
/pahr"sheuhl/ , adj.
1. being such in part only; not total or general; incomplete: partial blindness; a partial payment of a debt.
2. biased or prejudiced in favor of a person, group, side, etc., over another, as in a controversy: a partial witness.
3. pertaining to or affecting a part.
4. being a part; component; constituent.
5. Bot. secondary or subordinate: a partial umbel.
6. partial to , having a liking or preference for; particularly fond of: I'm partial to chocolate cake.
n.
7. Bridge. part-score.
8. Acoustics , Music. See partial tone .
[ 1375-1425; late ME parcial biased, particular partialis pertaining to a part, equiv. to L parti- (s. of pars ) PART + -alis -AL 1 ]
Syn. 1. unfinished, imperfect, limited. 2. one-sided, unfair, unjust.
Ant. 1, 3. complete. 2. unbiased, fair.