First Known Use: 1570
Dictionary
1segment
noun seg·ment \ˈseg-mənt\
: one of the parts into which something can be divided
geometry : a part of a circle formed by drawing a straight line between two points on the circle
: a part of a straight line between two points
Full Definition of SEGMENT
1
: a portion cut off from a geometric figure by one or more points, lines, or planes: as a : the area of a circle bounded by a chord and an arc of that circle b : the part of a sphere cut off by a plane or included between two parallel planes c : the finite part of a line between two points in the line
2
a : a separate piece of something : bit, fragment <chop the stalks into short segments> b : one of the constituent parts into which a body, entity, or quantity is divided or marked off by or as if by natural boundaries <all segments of the population agree>
— seg·men·tary \-mən-ˌter-ē\ adjective
See segment defined for English-language learners
See segment defined for kids
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Origin of SEGMENT
Latin segmentum, from secare to cut — more at saw
Synonym Discussion of SEGMENT
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>.
2segment
transitive verb seg·ment \ˈseg-ˌment\
: to divide (something) into parts
Full Definition of SEGMENT
: to separate into segments : give off as segments
First Known Use of SEGMENT
1859
Rhymes with SEGMENT
absent, accent, Advent, anent, ascent, assent, augment, besprent, cement, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, intent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, portent, present, prevent, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent
SEGMENTARY Defined for Kids
segment
noun seg·ment \ˈseg-mənt\
Definition of SEGMENT for Kids
1
: any of the parts into which a thing is divided or naturally separates
2
: a part cut off from a figure (as a circle) by means of a line or plane
3
: a part of a straight line included between two points
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