What precisely is "partial match" anchor text?

[TheEspresseo]

This page says "...'partial match' means that at least one word from the query matches the anchor text.". Does this mean that at least one word from the query matches at least one word from the anchor text, or that at least one word from the query matches the entire anchor text?

[mosaicpro]

As far as i know if you refer to exact match anchor text has to match the keyword exactly. 1st variation you entered. The rest are all partial match regardless of the variation.

[TheEspresseo]

Thanks! I think I grasp the concept of an "exact match"—this is where the entirety of the anchor text exactly matches the entirety of the keyword, right?

EXACT MATCH:
Keyword: tennis shoes ireland Anchor: tennis shoes ireland

Now, in the example you give, two of the words from the anchor text match two of the words in the keyword. However there are words in the keyword that are not in the anchor text, and there are words in the anchor text that are not in the keyword.

PARTIAL MATCH:
Keyword:tennis shoes ireland Anchor: buy shoes in ireland

I am seeking clarification on other cases. For example, what about when the entirety of the anchor text matches part of the keyword?

PARTIAL MATCH?
Keyword:tennis shoes ireland Anchor: tennis shoes

Out of all the examples this one seems like it is most clearly a partial match, which makes me wonder about the example you give. Are you sure that it would qualify as a partial match, and if so, why? Do you have some experiment you could point me to—either its results or, better yet, its method (so that I could duplicate it)? Or do you have a citation from an authority somewhere (preferably "the horse's mouth").

Now, how about when only one word out of a multi-word anchor matches only one word out of a multi-word keyword?

PARTIAL MATCH?Keyword:tennis shoes ireland Anchor:** mythology in ireland**

I would love to find out which of these, if any, count as partial matches, and which, if any, don't count as matches at all.

[mosaicpro]

Example of partial anchor text:

Your target keyword: tennis shoes ireland

Someone links to you with this anchor text: buy shoes in ireland

Part of your target keyword is in the anchor text. Exact match anchor text is exact match with your target keyword.