in·te·gral
in-ˈte-grəl
(usually so in mathematics)
ˈin-ti-grəl
in-ˈte-grəl
also -ˈtē-,
also nonstandard ˈin-trə-gəl
1
a
: essential to completeness : constituent
an integral part of the curriculum
b(1)
: being, containing, or relating to one or more mathematical integers
(2)
: relating to or concerned with mathematical integration or the results of mathematical integration
c
: formed as a unit with another part
a seat with integral headrest
2
: composed of constituent parts
3
: lacking nothing essential : entire
in·te·gral
ˈin-ti-grəl
: the result of a mathematical integration compare definite integral, indefinite integral
Synonyms
Examples of integral in a Sentence
Adjective
I do know that shoot-'em-ups (and saw-'em-ups) are likely to remain part of our lives, and that suggests a depressing idea: Maybe the love of violence is an integral part of human nature …
—
Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Oct. 2007
Stuffed with peanut butter, celery is the quintessential after-school snack; diced, it provides an essential crunch to chicken and potato salads; buttered up, it is an integral part of Thanksgiving stuffing.
—Sara Dickerman, New York Times Magazine, 3 Sept. 2006
Sitting out on the grass … watching the freight trains roll by on the levee at two in the morning, drinking a beer and listening to the music drifting out of the club, is an integral part of the whole experience.
—Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005
She had become an integral part of their lives.
a car dealer respected for his integral honesty and straightforwardness with customers
Noun
The main tools used in the study of these functions are those we have already discussed: representation as integrals, power-series expansions, and differential equations.
—Robert S. Strichartz, The Way of Analysis, 2000
Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Oct. 2007
Stuffed with peanut butter, celery is the quintessential after-school snack; diced, it provides an essential crunch to chicken and potato salads; buttered up, it is an integral part of Thanksgiving stuffing.
—Sara Dickerman, New York Times Magazine, 3 Sept. 2006
Sitting out on the grass … watching the freight trains roll by on the levee at two in the morning, drinking a beer and listening to the music drifting out of the club, is an integral part of the whole experience.
—Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005
She had become an integral part of their lives.
a car dealer respected for his integral honesty and straightforwardness with customers
Noun
The main tools used in the study of these functions are those we have already discussed: representation as integrals, power-series expansions, and differential equations.
—Robert S. Strichartz, The Way of Analysis, 2000
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
For many owners, their business is not just a source of income but an integral part of their identity.
—Steven Furtado, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024
In comparison, prior constructions involve estimating an integral over many variables, while the latest work involves only two variables regardless of the shape’s dimension.
—Max Springer, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for integral 
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Adjective
In addition, as Biden concludes his term, tribal communities and conservation groups are urging for more national monument designations, ensuring that the stories of resilience and struggle remain an integral part of the nation's historical narrative.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
For many owners, their business is not just a source of income but an integral part of their identity.
—Steven Furtado, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
The idea is that all mathematical results—whether 1 + 1 = 2 or a complicated integral—can derive from a common foundation.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024
In comparison, prior constructions involve estimating an integral over many variables, while the latest work involves only two variables regardless of the shape’s dimension.
—Max Springer, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for integral
Dictionary Entries Near integral
Cite this Entry
“Integral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integral. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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