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part1 definition

part (pärt)

noun

  1. a portion or division of a whole; specif.,
    1. any of several equal portions, quantities, numbers, pieces, etc. of which something is composed or into which it can be divided a cent is a 100th part of a dollar
    2. an essential element or constituent; integral portion which can be separated, replaced, etc. automobile parts
    3. a portion detached or cut from a whole; fragment; piece
    4. a certain amount but not all to lose part of one's fortune
    5. a certain amount or section regarded as a separate division
    6. a segment or organ of the body of men and animals
    7. a division of a literary work
    8. Math. an aliquot part
  2. a portion assigned or given; share; specif.,
    1. something a person must do; share of work or duty to do one's part
    2. interest or concern to have some part in a matter
    3. talent; ability a man of parts
    4. a character or role in a theatrical presentation; also, the words, actions, etc. of a character in a play
    5. Music the score for a particular voice or instrument in a concerted piece; also, any of the voices or instruments in a musical ensemble
    1. a region; area
    2. a portion of a country; district
  4. one of the different sides or parties in a transaction, dispute, conflict, etc.
  5. ☆ the dividing line formed by combing the hair in different directions

Etymology: ME < OE & OFr, both < L pars (gen. partis) < IE base *per-, to sell, hand over in sale, make equal > L par, equal, parare, to equate

transitive verb

  1. to break or divide into separate parts
  2. to comb (the hair) in different directions so as to leave a dividing line
  3. to break up (a connection or relationship) by separating those involved
  4. to separate (two or more persons or things); break or hold apart
  5. to separate (substances) as by a chemical process
  6. Archaic to distribute; share; apportion
  7. Naut. to break or undergo the breaking of (a hawser, chain, etc.)

Etymology: ME parten < OFr partir < L partire, to divide, separate < the n.

intransitive verb

  1. to break or divide into two or more pieces
  2. to separate and go different ways, as branches of a river
  3. to separate; leave each other; cease associating
    1. to go away; leave; depart: with from
    2. to die

adjective

of or having to do with only a part; partial

adverb

partly; in part
part Idioms

for one's part

as far as one is concerned

for the most part

in the greatest part or to the greatest extent; mostly; generally

in good part

  1. good-naturedly
  2. generally; mostly

in part

to a certain extent or degree; partly

on the part of someone

  1. as far as someone is concerned
  2. by or coming from someone
Also on someone's part

part with

to give up; let go; relinquish

play a part

  1. to behave unnaturally in an attempt to deceive
  2. to participate or share
    also take part

take someone's part

to support someone in a struggle or disagreement; side with someone
part2 definition

part

  1. participial
  2. participle
  3. particular

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms part idiom

medical part definition - medical

part Synonyms

part

n.

  1. A portion

    piece, portion, fragment, fraction, section, segment, division, share, sector, member, allotment, apportionment, ingredient, element, subsystem, slab, subdivision, partition, particle, installment, component, constituent, bit, slice, rasher, scrap, chip, chunk, lump, sliver, splinter, shaving, shard, molecule, atom, electron, proton, neutron; see also share.

    Antonyms whole*, total*, aggregate. *

  2. A machine part

    molding, casting, fitting, lever, shaft, cam, spring, band, belt, chain, pulley, clutch, spare part, replacement; see also bolt 1, brace 1, frame 1, 2, gear 2, machine 1, nut 2, rod 1, wheel 1.

  3. A character in a drama

    hero, heroine, character; see role.

part is the general word for any of the components of a whole a part of one's life; a portion is specifically a part allotted to someone her portion of the inheritance; a piece is either a part separated from the whole a piece of pie or a single standardized unit of a collection a piece of statuary; a division is a part formed by cutting, partitioning, classifying, etc. the fine-arts division of a library; section is equivalent to division but usually connotes a smaller part a section of a bookcase; segment implies a part separated along natural lines of division a segment of a tangerine; a fraction is strictly a part contained by the whole an integral number of times, but generally connotes an insignificant part he received only a fraction of the benefits; a fragment is a relatively small part separated by or as if by breaking off a fragment of rock, a fragment of a song

for one's part

privately, so far as one is concerned, in one's opinion; see personally 2.

for the most part

mainly, mostly, to the greatest part or extent; see largely.

in good part

good-naturedly, without offense, cordially; see agreeably.

in part

to a certain extent, somewhat, slightly; see partly.

on one's part

privately, as far as one is concerned, coming from one; see personally 2.

on the part of

for, in support of, to help, in the interest of; see for.

play a part

  1. behave unnaturally, put on, disguise; see deceive.

  2. share, join, take part; see participate 1.

take someone's part

act in behalf of someone, aid, help; see support 2.


part

v.

  1. To put apart

    separate, break, sever; see divide 1.

  2. To depart

    withdraw, take leave, part company; see leave 1. See syn. study at separate.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

part Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • world: Label the parts of the world where the voices come from.

Converse of object

  • take: Around 3,500 people took part to let the Primary Care Trust know what they thought about the area's health problems.

Adjective modifier

  • integral: EU law is therefore an integral part of the law in the UK.

Modifies a noun

  • I: Matt: No, also money from part I in their budgets, can release money from part II as well.

Noun used with modifier

  • component: They were then tested for their suitability for reuse, or stripped down to their component parts for recycling.
part usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

part quotes

Let us have no ranting tragedies. Too many charactersöNot a tolerable woman's part in the play.

-Austen,Jane

   Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and havenotcharity,Iam becomeassounding brass, ora tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all mygoodstofeed thepoor, and though Igivemy body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not herown, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

-Bible (NewTestament)

   Fear God, and take your own part.

-Borrow, George Henry

part quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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part. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/part

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