An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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A differential → operator, denoted ∇² = ∇.∇, which is the sum of all second partial derivatives of a dependant variable: ∇²≡ ∂²/∂x² + ∂²/∂y² + ∂²/∂z², in Cartesian coordinates. It has numerous applications in several fields of physics and mathematics. Also called Laplace operator.

Named after → Laplace.