¹section

noun sec·tion \ˈsek-shən\

: one of the parts that form something

: a particular area that is part of a larger place

: a part of a newspaper, play, book, etc.

Full Definition of SECTION

a : the action or an instance of cutting or separating by cutting

b : a part set off by or as if by cutting

: a distinct part or portion of something written (as a chapter, law, or newspaper)

a : the profile of something as it would appear if cut through by an intersecting plane

b : the plane figure resulting from the cutting of a solid by a plane

: a natural subdivision of a taxonomic group

: a character § used as a mark for the beginning of a section and as a reference mark

: a piece of land one square mile in area forming especially one of the 36 subdivisions of a township

: a distinct part of a territorial or political area, community, or group of people <the historic section of the city>

a : a part that may be, is, or is viewed as separated <a board cut into sections> <the northern section of the route>

b : one segment of a fruit : carpel

: a basic military unit usually having a special function

: a very thin slice (as of tissue) suitable for microscopic examination

a : one of the classes formed by dividing the students taking a course

b : one of the discussion groups into which a conference or organization is divided

a : a part of a permanent railroad way under the care of a particular crew

b : one of two or more vehicles or trains which run on the same schedule

: one of several component parts that may be assembled or reassembled <a bookcase in sections>

: a division of an orchestra composed of one class of instruments <the string section>

: signature 3b

See section defined for English-language learners

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Origin of SECTION

Latin section-, sectio, from secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use: 1534

Related to SECTION

Synonyms: nabe, neighborhood, quarter, district

Synonym Discussion of SECTION

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>.