Nabla

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  del \del\ n. (Math.)
     a differential operator which, operating on a function of
     several variables, gives the sum of the partial derivatives
     of the function with respect to the three orthogonal spatial
     coordinates; -- also called the {gradient} or {grad}. It is
     represented by an inverted Greek capital delta ([nabla]), and


     is thus because of its shape also called {nabla}, meaning
     harp in Hebrew.
     [PJC]