part

part

part¹ [pärt]

n.

[ME < OE & OFr, both < L pars (gen. partis) < IE base * per-, to sell, hand over in sale, make equal > L par, equal, parare, to equate]

1. a portion or division of a whole; specif.,

a) any of several equal portions, quantities, numbers, pieces, etc. of which something is composed or into which it can be divided [a cent is a 100th part of a dollar]

b) an essential element or constituent; integral portion which can be separated, replaced, etc. [automobile parts]

c) a portion detached or cut from a whole; fragment; piece

d) a certain amount but not all [to lose part of one's fortune]

e) a certain amount or section regarded as a separate division

f) a segment or organ of the body of men and animals

g) a division of a literary work

h) Math. an aliquot part

2. a portion assigned or given; share; specif.,

a) something a person must do; share of work or duty [to do one's part]

b) interest or concern [to have some part in a matter]

c) [usually pl.] talent; ability [a man of parts]

d) a character or role in a theatrical presentation; also, the words, actions, etc. of a character in a play

e) Music the score for a particular voice or instrument in a concerted piece; also, any of the voices or instruments in a musical ensemble

3.

a) a region; area

b) [usually pl.] a portion of a country; district

4. one of the different sides or parties in a transaction, dispute, conflict, etc.

☆ 5. the dividing line formed by combing the hair in different directions

vt.

[ME parten < OFr partir < L partire, to divide, separate < the n.]

1. to break or divide into separate parts

2. to comb (the hair) in different directions so as to leave a dividing line

3. to break up (a connection or relationship) by separating those involved

4. to separate (two or more persons or things); break or hold apart

5. to separate (substances) as by a chemical process

6. Archaic to distribute; share; apportion

7. Naut. to break or undergo the breaking of (a hawser, chain, etc.)

vi.

1. to break or divide into two or more pieces

2. to separate and go different ways, as branches of a river

3. to separate; leave each other; cease associating

4.

a) to go away; leave; depart: with from

b) to die

adj.

of or having to do with only a part; partial

adv.

partly; in part

SYN.- SEPARATE

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for one's part

as far as one is concerned

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for the most part

in the greatest part or to the greatest extent; mostly; generally

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in good part

1. good-naturedly

2. generally; mostly

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in part

to a certain extent or degree; partly

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on the part of someone or on someone's part

1. as far as someone is concerned

2. by or coming from someone: Also on someone's part

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part with

to give up; let go; relinquish

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play a part

1. to behave unnaturally in an attempt to deceive

2. to participate or share: also take part

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take someone's part

to support someone in a struggle or disagreement; side with someone

SYN.- PART¹ is the general word for any of the components of a whole [a part of one's life ]; a PORTION is specifically a part allotted to someone [his portion of the inheritance ]; a PIECE is either a part separated from the whole [a piece of pie ] or a single standardized unit of a collection [a piece of statuary ]; a DIVISION is a part formed by cutting, partitioning, classifying, etc. [the fine-arts division of a library ]; SECTION is equivalent to DIVISION but usually connotes a smaller part [a section of a bookcase ]; SEGMENT implies a part separated along natural lines of division [a segment of a tangerine ]; a FRACTION is strictly a part contained by the whole an integral number of times, but generally it connotes an insignificant part [he received only a fraction of the benefits ]; a FRAGMENT is a relatively small part separated by or as by breaking [a fragment of rock ] -ANT. WHOLE

part²

abbrev.

1. participial

2. participle

3. particular