Suffer from partial failure (3)
I believe the answer is:
ail
'suffer' is the definition.
(ailing is a kind of suffering)
'from partial failure' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'AIL' is hidden in the letters of 'partial failure'.
(Other definitions for ail that I've seen before include "pain" , "Sicken" , "Be unwell, suffer" , "Be ill or unwell" , "upset" .)