differential

/ˌdɪfəˈrenʃl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪfəˈrenʃl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌdi-fə-ˈren(t)-shəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˌdɪf.əˈren.ʃəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdɪf.əˈren.ʃəl/ (ame, ipa)

differential — 名詞

  • differentialsingular
  • differentialsplural

1. the measured gap separating two amounts, values, or groups — such as the differe

1.名詞B2
釋義

差額；差異

兩個數值或群體之間的差別量

the measured gap separating two amounts, values, or groups — such as the difference in pay between workers in different roles, or the price gap between two competing products.

例句

The wage differential between nurses and doctors has been a topic of debate for years.

護理師與醫師之間的薪資差額多年來一直是備受討論的議題。

collocation: wage differential

Sahil decided to switch suppliers after seeing the price differential of nearly twenty percent.

Sahil 在發現價格差了將近百分之二十之後，決定更換供應商。

collocation: price differential

同義詞
  • gap

    more general and informal; 'gap' does not imply a measurable scale

  • disparity

    stronger connotation of unfairness or inequality; used in social-justice contexts

  • spread

    used in finance for the difference between bid and ask prices

反義詞
  • equality

    absence of difference between compared items

  • parity

    state of being equal, especially in value or status

文法句型

differential + between + noun + and + noun

differential + in + noun

用法筆記

Common in economic and business contexts. The noun usually appears with a modifier specifying what kind of gap is being measured (wage differential, price differential, age differential).

常見錯誤

❌There is a big differential between the two prices.' (vague)
✅There is a significant price differential of fifteen percent between the two products.
💡'differential' typically needs a modifier (wage, price, age) to sound natural.

2. a part of a vehicle's transmission system that lets the drive wheels spin at sep

2.名詞C1
釋義

差速器

讓車輪以不同速度轉動的傳動裝置

a part of a vehicle's transmission system that lets the drive wheels spin at separate speeds, helping the car turn corners smoothly without skidding.

例句

The mechanic said the differential needed a fluid change after sixty thousand kilometres.

技師說差速器跑了六萬公里之後需要更換潤滑油。

collocation: differential + fluid change

Hao heard a grinding noise from the rear of the truck and suspected the differential was failing.

Hao 聽到卡車後方傳來摩擦聲，懷疑是差速器出了問題。

同義詞
  • diff

    informal shortening used by mechanics and car enthusiasts

  • differential gear

    the full technical term; slightly more formal

用法筆記

Often shortened to 'diff' by mechanics and car enthusiasts. The full term 'differential gear' is also common in technical writing.

3. in calculus, a value that represents how fast one quantity is changing at a spec

3.名詞C2
釋義

微分

微分運算得到的某點瞬間變化率

in calculus, a value that represents how fast one quantity is changing at a specific point compared to another related quantity, obtained through the process of differentiation.

例句

In class, the professor showed how to find the differential of the function f of x with respect to x.

課堂上，教授示範如何求函數 f of x 對 x 的微分。

pattern: differential + of + function + with respect to

Allison used the differential to estimate the change in balloon volume from a small radius increase.

Allison 利用微分來估算半徑微幅增加時，氣球體積的變化量。

同義詞
  • derivative

    closely related but distinct; the derivative is a function, while the differential is a specific value or expression linked to an increment

  • instantaneous rate of change

    a conceptual description rather than a synonym; captures the same idea in words

文法句型

differential + of + noun + with respect to + noun

用法筆記

Nearly exclusive to mathematics and physics contexts. Learners at lower levels rarely encounter this sense — it is safely deferred to C2 or domain-specific study.

常見錯誤

❌Find the differential of this equation.' (vague and imprecise)
✅Find the differential of y with respect to x.
💡always specify the independent variable.

differential — 形容詞