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¹part

noun \ˈpärt\

: one of the pieces, sections, qualities, etc., that make or form something

: one of the pieces that are put together to form a machine

: one of the pieces or areas of the body of a plant or animal

Full Definition of PART

a (1) : one of the often indefinite or unequal subdivisions into which something is or is regarded as divided and which together constitute the whole (2) : an essential portion or integral element

b : one of several or many equal units of which something is composed or into which it is divisible : an amount equal to another amount <mix one part of the powder with three parts of water>

c (1) : an exact divisor of a quantity : aliquot (2) : partial fraction

d : one of the constituent elements of a plant or animal body: as (1) : organ, member (2) plural : private parts

e : a division of a literary work

f (1) : a vocal or instrumental line or melody in concerted music or in harmony (2) : a particular voice or instrument in concerted music; also : the score for it

g : a constituent member of a machine or other apparatus; also : a spare part

: something falling to one in a division or apportionment : share <wanted no part of the proposal>

: one's share or allotted task (as in an action) : duty <one must do one's part>

: one of the opposing sides in a conflict or dispute

: a general area of indefinite boundaries —usually used in plural <you're not from around these parts> <took off for parts unknown>

: a function or course of action performed

a : an actor's lines in a play

b : the role of a character in a play

: a constituent of character or capacity : talent <a man of many parts>

: the line where the hair is parted

— for one's part

: as far as one's share or interest is concerned <for my part, I do not see that the difference is important — Mary McCarthy>

— for the most part

: in general : on the whole <for the most part the crowd was orderly>

— in part

: in some degree : partially

— on one's part or on the part of one

: with regard to the one specified

See part defined for English-language learners

See part defined for kids

Origin of PART

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Old English, both from Latin part-, pars; perhaps akin to Latin parare to prepare — more at pare

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to PART

Synonyms: member, partition, portion, section, segment

Synonym Discussion of PART

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>.

Rhymes with PART

art, cart, chart, Chartres, dart, fart, hart, Harte, heart, kart, mart, smart, start, tart

²part

verb

: to separate into two or more parts that move away from each other

: to separate (the hair on a person's head) into two parts on each side of a line by using a comb

: to leave each other : to go or move away from someone

Full Definition of PART

intransitive verb

a : to separate from or take leave of someone

b : to take leave of one another

: to become separated into parts

a : to go away : depart

b : die

: to become separated, detached, or broken

: to relinquish possession or control <hated to part with that money>

transitive verb

a : to divide into parts

b : to separate by combing on each side of a line

c : to break or suffer the breaking of (as a rope or anchor chain)

: to divide into shares and distribute : apportion

a : to remove from contact or association <if aught but death part thee and me — Ruth 1:17(Authorized Version)>

b : to keep separate <the narrow channel that parts England from France>

c : to hold (as brawlers) apart

d : to separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or secretion

a archaic : leave, quit

b dial British : relinquish, give up

— part company

: to end a relationship or association

: to diverge from another (as in opinion) —often used with with

See part defined for English-language learners

Origin of PART

Middle English, from Anglo-French partir, from Latin partire to divide, from part-, pars

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to PART

Synonyms: branch (out), diverge, divide, fork, separate, spread

Antonyms: converge, join

³part

adverb

: somewhat but not completely : to some extent or in some degree

Full Definition of PART

: partly

See part defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of PART

1513

Related to PART

Synonyms: half, halfway, incompletely, partly, partially, partway

Antonyms: all, altogether, completely, entirely, fully, perfectly, quite, totally, utterly, wholly

⁴part

adjective

: not complete or total

Full Definition of PART

: partial 1

See part defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of PART

1818

⁵part

abbreviation

Definition of PART

participial; participle

particular

PART[1] Defined for Kids

¹part

noun \ˈpärt\

Definition of PART for Kids

: one of the sections into which something is divided <This is the best part of the movie.> <That wasn't part of our agreement.>

: some of something <My dog is part husky.> <I spent part of my day reading.>

: a general area <She moved to another part of the state.>

: a piece of a machine

: one of the sides or aspects <The best part of camp is making new friends.>

: the role of a character in a play

: a line along which the hair is divided

: a person's share or duty <I did my part for the team.>

: the music for a voice or instrument <the soprano part>

: a voice or instrument <four-part harmony>

: a piece of a plant or animal body

— for the most part

: with few exceptions : on the whole <They were, for the most part, very pleased.>

Word Root of PART

The Latin word pars, meaning “part,” and its form partis give us the root part. Words from the Latin pars have something to do with a part, section, or portion. To participate is to take part in some activity. Anything partial involves only part of something. A particle is a tiny bit or portion of something. It is easy to see that part itself also comes directly from pars in both form and meaning.

Synonym Discussion of PART

part, portion, and section mean something less than the whole to which it belongs. part is used when something is taken away from the whole or thought of as being separate from the rest. <A part of the room is used for storage.> portion is used when a whole has been divided into assigned parts. <Cut the pie into six portions.> section is used if the parts of the whole are recognizable and have been separated by or as if by cutting. <This newspaper has four sections.>

²part

verb

part·edpart·ing

Definition of PART for Kids

: to leave each other <They parted at the intersection.>

: to separate the hair by combing on each side of a line

: to give up possession of <She won't part with her money.>

: to hold apart <He parted the curtains.>

: to come apart <The crowd parted to let us through.>

: to divide into parts

Medical Dictionary

part

noun \ˈpärt\

Medical Definition of PART

: one of several or many like units into which something is divided or of which it is composed : a proportional division or ingredient <mix the powder with three parts of water>

: a portion of an animal body: as a : an essential anatomical element : organ, member <the chief parts of the digestive system are the esophagus, stomach, intestine, and associated glands> b : an indefinite area or one lacking or not considered in respect to a natural boundary <bathe the affected part with warm water>