member

noun, mem·ber often attributive \ˈmem-bər\

: someone or something that belongs to or is a part of a group or an organization

: a part of a structure (such as a building or a bridge)

: a body part (such as an arm or a leg)

Full Definition of MEMBER

: a body part or organ: as

a : limb

b : penis

c : a unit of structure in a plant body

: one of the individuals composing a group

: a person baptized or enrolled in a church

: a part of a whole: as

a : a syntactic or rhythmic unit of a sentence : clause

b : one of the propositions of a syllogism

c : one of the elements of a set or class

d : either of the equated elements in a mathematical equation

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Origin of MEMBER

Middle English membre, from Anglo-French, from Latin membrum; akin to Gothic mimz flesh, Greek mēros thigh

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to MEMBER

Synonyms: building block, component, constituent, factor, ingredient, element

Antonyms: whole

Synonym Discussion of MEMBER

part, portion, piece, member, division, section, segment, fragment mean something less than the whole. part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required <they ran only part of the way>. portion implies an assigned or allotted part <cut the pie into six portions>. piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole <a puzzle with 500 pieces>. member suggests one of the functional units composing a body <a structural member>. division applies to a large or diversified part <the manufacturing division of the company>. section applies to a relatively small or uniform part <the entertainment section of the newspaper>. segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage <the retired segment of the population>. fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off <only a fragment of the play still exists>.