partialoperation
nounUK /ˈpɑː.ʃəl ˌɒp.əˈreɪ.ʃən/
US /ˈpɑːr.ʃəl ˌɑː.pəˈreɪ.ʃən/
A partial operation is a math rule that only works for some pairs of numbers, not all of them.
Subtraction is a partial operation on whole numbers because 3 minus 5 has no whole-number answer.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A job or task that is only partly finished.
The bridge was a partial operation, so only one lane was open.
3. A medical procedure that treats only part of a problem.
The doctors performed a partial operation to remove the growth.
4. A business or machine that works only some of the time.
The factory ran as a partial operation during the repairs.