First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1portion
noun por·tion \ˈpȯr-shən\
: a part of a larger amount, area, etc.
: a part of something that is shared with other people
: the amount of food that is served to a person at one time
Full Definition of PORTION
1
: an individual's part or share of something: as a : a share received by gift or inheritance b : dowry c : enough food especially of one kind to serve one person at one meal
2
: an individual's lot, fate, or fortune : one's share of good and evil
3
: an often limited part of a whole
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Origin of PORTION
Middle English porcioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin portion-, portio; akin to Latin part-, pars part
Synonym Discussion of PORTION
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>.
fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom mean a predetermined state or end. fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome <the fate of the submarine is unknown>. destiny implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end <the country's destiny to be a model of liberty to the world>. lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance <it was her lot to die childless>, portion implying the apportioning of good and evil <remorse was his daily portion>. doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate <if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain>.
fate, destiny, lot, portion, doom mean a predetermined state or end. fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome <the fate of the submarine is unknown>. destiny implies something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end <the country's destiny to be a model of liberty to the world>. lot and portion imply a distribution by fate or destiny, lot suggesting blind chance <it was her lot to die childless>, portion implying the apportioning of good and evil <remorse was his daily portion>. doom distinctly implies a grim or calamitous fate <if the rebellion fails, his doom is certain>.
Rhymes with PORTION
2portion
verb
: to divide (something) into parts and give those parts to people
por·tionedpor·tion·ing \-sh(ə-)niŋ\
Full Definition of PORTION
transitive verb
1
: to divide into portions : distribute <portioned out the food equally>
2
: to allot a dowry to : dower
See portion defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PORTION
14th century
Related to PORTION
- Synonyms
- allocate, apportion, deal (out), dispense, distribute, dole out, hand out, mete (out), parcel (out), administer, prorate
- Antonyms
- misallocate
PORTION Defined for Kids
1portion
noun por·tion \ˈpōr-shən\
2portion
verb
por·tionedpor·tion·ing
Definition of PORTION for Kids
: to divide into parts : distribute <Kimki portioned work for each one in the tribe … — Scott O'Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins>
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