integral
IHN-tihgrl
Integral (adj) means Essential to completeness; a necessary part of a whole. Example: “Regular practice is integral to learning a musical instrument.”
adj
1
Essential to completeness; a necessary part of a whole.
"Regular practice is integral to learning a musical instrument."
"Trust is integral to any good working relationship."
"The engine is an integral part of the car, not an add-on."
noun
1
In mathematics, the result of the calculus operation that finds the area under a curve or a function's total accumulated value.
"The students learned how to evaluate the integral of a simple polynomial."
"In calculus class, we used an integral to find the total distance travelled."
"She calculated the integral of the function to find the area under the curve."
How to use integral
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "necessary/built-in" (everyday sense) or a calculus term for the area/total under a curve (maths sense).
Common pairings
integral part
integral to
calculate the integral
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Word forms
- Plural
- integrals
- Comparative
- more integral
- Superlative
- most integral
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Regular practice is _____ to learning a musical instrument.
Etymology
From Latin integer, "whole, untouched" — the same root as the number word "integer."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “integral” mean?
The word “integral” means essential to completeness; a necessary part of a whole. In plain terms, either "necessary/built-in" (everyday sense) or a calculus term for the area/total under a curve (maths sense).
How do you pronounce “integral”?
“Integral” is pronounced IHN-tihgrl (/ˈɪntəɡɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “integral” in a sentence?
Here is “integral” used in a sentence: “Trust is integral to any good working relationship.”
What part of speech is “integral”?
Depending on how it is used, “integral” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “integral” come from?
The word “integral” comes from Latin. From Latin integer, "whole, untouched" — the same root as the number word "integer.".
Is “integral” a common word?
“Integral” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “integral” have?
“Integral” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: essential to completeness; a necessary part of a whole.
What is the difference between integral and integrated?
Integral, as an adjective, means essential to completeness, a necessary part of a whole. Integrated means combined or brought together into a unified whole. Something integral is required for the whole to be complete, while something integrated has been merged into it.
What is the difference between integral and essential?
Both mean necessary, but integral stresses being a built-in, inseparable part of a larger whole, while essential stresses being absolutely required. They are close synonyms and often interchangeable.
Is it correct to say integral to or an integral part of?
Both are correct. You can say something is "integral to" a system, where a noun follows, or that it is "an integral part of" it, which is a common fixed phrase. Both express that the thing is essential to the whole.
What is the difference between an integral and a derivative in math?
In calculus, an integral finds the area under a curve or a function's total accumulated value, while a derivative finds the rate at which a function is changing. They are inverse operations of each other.
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