# del

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɛl/ · frequency rank #4,150

## Definitions
1. The symbol ∇ used to denote the gradient operator.
2. the symbol ∂, in the context of a partial differential

## Etymology
From delta, the symbol being an inverted delta.

## Easily confused with
- **do** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-do)
- **Dr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dr)
- **di** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-di)
- **DJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dj)
- **DM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dm)
- **DS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-ds)
- **DL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dl)
- **DT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dt)
- **DP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dp)
- **dw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dw)
- **Dx** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dx)
- **DG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dg)
- **DV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dv)
- **dy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dy)
- **DQ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dq)
- **did** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-did)
- **due** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-due)
- **dog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dog)
- **die** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-die)
- **dry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/del-vs-dry)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/del