Portion vs Partial - What's the difference?
portion | partial |
An allocated amount.
That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a separated part of anything.
One's fate; lot.
* Bible, Luke xii. 46
* Keble
The part of an estate given or falling to a child or heir; an inheritance.
* Bible, Luke xv. 12
A wife's fortune; a dowry.
* 1613 , , V. iv. 31:
To divide into amounts, as for allocation to specific purposes.
To endow with a portion or inheritance.
Existing as a part or portion; incomplete.
(computer science) Describing a property that holds only when an algorithm terminates.
Biased in favor of a person, side, or point of view, especially when dealing with a competition or dispute.
* Alexander Pope
Having a predilection for something.
* Sir Walter Scott
(mathematics) A partial derivative: a derivative with respect to one independent variable of a function in multiple variables.
(music) An overtone or harmonic.
(dentistry) dentures that replace only some of the natural teeth
As nouns the difference between portion and partial
is that portion is an allocated amount while partial is a partial derivative: a derivative with respect to one independent variable of a function in multiple variables.As a verb portion
is to divide into amounts, as for allocation to specific purposes.As an adjective partial is
existing as a part or portion; incomplete.portion
English
Noun
(en noun)- The lord of that servant will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
- Man's portion is to die and rise again.
- Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.
- Commend me to her, and to piece her portion / Tender her this.
Usage notes
Relatively formal, compared to the more informal part or more concrete and casual piece. For example, “part of the money” (both informal) but “portion of the proceeds” (both formal).Synonyms
* part * pieceDerived terms
* portionless * proportionVerb
(en verb)- Him portioned maids, apprenticed orphans, blest. — Alexander Pope.
Usage notes
* Particularly used as portion out. * Relatively formal, compared to the more informal divide, divide up, or the casual divvy, divvy up.Synonyms
* divide, divide up * divvy, divvy upDerived terms
* portion off * portion outExternal links
* * ----partial
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- So far, I have only pieced together a partial account of the incident.
- It's easy to prove partial correctness, but it's not obvious that it is also totally correct.
- The referee is blatantly partial !
- a partial parent
- not partial to an ostentatious display