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For the most part

 - 8 dictionary results
Part Of
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most

  [mohst]
Use For the most part in a Sentence
–adjective, superl. of much or many with more as compar.
1. in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number: to win the most votes.
2. in the majority of instances: Most operations are successful.
3. greatest, as in size or extent: the most talent.
–noun
4. the greatest quantity, amount, or degree; the utmost: The most I can hope for is a passing grade.
5. the greatest number or the majority of a class specified: Most of his writing is rubbish.
6. the greatest number: The most this room will seat is 150.
7. the majority of persons: to be more sensitive than most.
8. the most, Slang. the ultimate in something: He's the most. That movie was the most.
–adverb, superl. of much with more as compar.
9. in or to the greatest extent or degree (in this sense often used before adjectives and adverbs, and regularly before those of more than two syllables, to form superlative phrases having the same force and effect as the superlative degree formed by the termination -est): most rapid; most wisely.
10. very: a most puzzling case.
11. Informal. almost or nearly.
—Idioms
12. at the most, at the maximum. Also, at most.
13. for the most part. part (def. 34).
14. make the most of, to use to greatest advantage; utilize fully: to make the most of an opportunity.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME most(e), OE māst; r. ME mest(e), OE mǣst; c. G meist, Goth maists. See more

Synonyms:
11. See almost.

Usage note:
11. The adverb most, a shortened form of almost, is far from being either a recent development or an Americanism. It goes back to the 16th century in England, where it is now principally a dialect form. In American English it occurs before such pronouns as all, anyone, anybody, everyone, and everybody; the adjectives all, any, and every; and adverbs like anywhere and everywhere: Most everyone around here is related to everyone else. You can find that plant most anywhere. This use of most is often objected to, but it is common in the informal speech of educated persons. It is less common in edited writing except in representations of speech.
Part Of
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part

  [pahrt]
–noun
1. a portion or division of a whole that is separate or distinct; piece, fragment, fraction, or section; constituent: the rear part of the house; to glue the two parts together.
2. an essential or integral attribute or quality: a sense of humor is part of a healthy personality.
3. a section or division of a literary work.
4. a portion, member, or organ of an animal body.
5. any of a number of more or less equal quantities that compose a whole or into which a whole is divided: Use two parts sugar to one part cocoa.
6. an allotted portion; share.
7. Usually, parts.
a. a region, quarter, or district: a journey to foreign parts.
b. a quality or attribute establishing the possessor as a person of importance or superior worth: Being both a diplomat and a successful businesswoman, she is widely regarded as a woman of parts.
8. either of the opposing sides in a contest, question, agreement, etc.
9. the dividing line formed in separating the hair of the head and combing it in different directions.
10. a constituent piece of a machine or tool either included at the time of manufacture or set in place as a replacement for the original piece.
11. Music.
a. the written or printed matter extracted from the score that a single performer or section uses in the performance of concerted music: a horn part.
b. a section or division of a composition: the allegro part of the first movement.
12. participation, interest, or concern in something; role: The neighbors must have had some part in planning the surprise party.
13. a person's share in or contribution to some action; duty, function, or office: You must do your part if we're to finish by tonight.
14. a character or role acted in a play or sustained in real life.
–verb (used with object)
15. to divide (a thing) into parts; break; cleave; divide.
16. to comb (the hair) away from a dividing line.
17. to divide into shares; distribute in parts; apportion.
18. to put or keep apart; separate: They parted the calves from the herd.
19. Metallurgy.
a. to separate (silver) from gold in refining.
b. to cut (one part) away from a piece, as an end from a billet.
c. to keep the surface of (a casting) separate from the sand of the mold.
20. Obsolete. to leave.
–verb (used without object)
21. to be or become divided into parts; break or cleave: The oil tanker parted amidships.
22. to go or come apart; separate, as two or more things.
23. to go apart from or leave one another, as persons: We'll part no more.
24. to be or become separated from something else (usually fol. by from).
25. Nautical. to break or become torn apart, as a cable.
26. to depart.
27. to die.
–adjective
28. partial; of a part: part owner.
–adverb
29. in part; partly: part black.
—Verb phrase
30. part with, to give up (property, control, etc.); relinquish: to part with one's money.
—Idioms
31. for one's part, as far as concerns one: For my part, you can do whatever you please.
32. for the most part, with respect to the greatest part; on the whole; generally; usually; mostly: They are good students, for the most part.
33. in good part,
a. without offense; in a good-natured manner; amiably: She was able to take teasing in good part.
b. to a great extent; largely: His success is in good part ascribable to dogged determination.
34. in part, in some measure or degree; to some extent; partly; partially: The crop failure was due in part to unusual weather conditions.
35. on the part of,
a. so far as pertains to or concerns one: He expressed appreciation on the part of himself and his colleagues.
b. as done or manifested by: attention on the part of the audience.
Also, on one's part.
36. part and parcel, an essential, necessary, or integral part: Her love for her child was part and parcel of her life.
37. part company,
a. to bid farewell or go separate ways; leave one another.
b. to dissolve a personal affiliation, relationship, etc., esp. because of irreconcilable differences.
c. to disagree.
38. take part, to participate; share or partake: They refused to take part in any of the activities of the community.
39. take someone's part, to align oneself with; support; defend: His parents took his part, even though he was obviously in the wrong.
Origin:
bef. 1000; (n.) ME (< OF < L), OE < L part- (s. of pars) piece, portion; (v.) ME parten < OF partir < L partīre, deriv. of pars

Synonyms:
1. component, ingredient, division, sector. Part, piece, portion, segment, section, fraction, fragment refer to something that is less than the whole. Part is the general word: part of a house. A piece suggests a part which is itself a complete unit or it may mean an irregular fragment: a piece of pie; a piece of a broken vase. A portion is a part allotted or assigned to a person, purpose, etc.: a portion of food. A segment is often a part into which something separates naturally: a segment of an orange. Section suggests a relatively substantial, clearly separate part that fits closely with other parts to form a whole: a section of a fishing rod, a book. Fraction suggests a less substantial but still clearly delimited part, often separate from other parts: a fraction of his former income. Fragment suggests a broken, inconsequential, incomplete part, with irregular or imprecise outlines or boundaries: a fragment of broken pottery, of information. 6. apportionment, lot. 13. responsibility. 18. sever, sunder, dissociate, disconnect, disjoin, detach.

Antonyms:
1. whole. 15. join.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To For the most part
part   (pärt)   
n.  

  1. A portion, division, piece, or segment of a whole.

  2. Any of several equal portions or fractions that can constitute a whole or into which a whole can be divided: a mixture of two parts flour to one part sugar.

  3. A division of a literary work: a novel in three parts.

  4. (used with a pl. v.)

    1. An organ, member, or other division of an organism: A tail is not a part of a guinea pig.

    2. parts The external genitals.

    3. The music or score for a particular instrument, as in an orchestra.

    4. One of the melodic divisions or voices of a contrapuntal composition.

  5. A component that can be separated from or attached to a system; a detachable piece: spare parts for cars.

  6. A role: He has the main part in the play.

  7. One's responsibility, duty, or obligation; share: We each do our part to keep the house clean.

  8. Individual endowment or ability; talent. Often used in the plural.

  9. A region, area, land, or territory. Often used in the plural: "Minding your own business is second nature in these parts" (Boston).

  10. The line where the hair on the head is parted.

  11. Music

    1. The music or score for a particular instrument, as in an orchestra.

    2. One of the melodic divisions or voices of a contrapuntal composition.

v.   part·ed, part·ing, parts

v.   tr.

  1. To divide or break into separate parts.

  2. To break up (a relationship) by separating the elements involved: parted company.

  3. To put or keep apart: No one could part the two friends.

  4. To comb (hair, for example) away from a dividing line, as on the scalp.

  5. Archaic To divide into shares or portions.

v.   intr.

  1. To become divided or separated: The curtain parted in the middle.

  2. To go apart from one another; separate: They parted as friends. They were forced to part from one another. See Synonyms at separate.

  3. To separate or divide into ways going in different directions: The road parts about halfway into the forest.

  4. To go away; depart.

  5. To disagree by factions: The committee parted over the issue of pay raises for employees.

  6. Archaic To die.

adv.  Partially; in part: part yellow, part green.
adj.  Not full or complete; partial: a part owner of the business.
Phrasal Verb(s):
part withTo give up or let go of; relinquish.

Idiom(s):
for (one's) partSo far as one is concerned.

Idiom(s):
for the most partTo the greater extent; generally or mostly.

Idiom(s):
in good partGood-naturedly or with good grace; without taking offense: take a joke in good part.

Idiom(s):
in partTo some extent; partly.

Idiom(s):
on the part ofRegarding or with respect to (the one specified): Brilliant strategy on the part of Confederate forces ensured their victory at Chancellorsville.

Idiom(s):
part and parcelA basic or essential part: Working overtime is part and parcel of my job.

Idiom(s):
take partTo join in; participate: She took part in the celebration.

Idiom(s):
take (someone's) partTo side with in a disagreement; support.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin pars, part-; see perə-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

part  (n.)
c.1000, "part of speech," from O.Fr. part, from L. partem (nom. pars, gen. partis) "part, piece, side, share," related to L. portio "share, portion," from PIE base *per- "to assign, allot" (cf. Gk. peprotai "it has been granted," Skt. purtam "reward," Hittite parshiya- "fraction, part"). It has replaced native deal in most senses. Theatrical sense (1495) is from an actor's "share" in a performance. Meaning "the parting of the hair" is 1890, Amer.Eng.

most 
O.E. mast "greatest number, amount, extent," earlier mæst, from P.Gmc. *maistaz (cf. O.S. mest, O.N. mestr, Ger. meist, Goth. maists "most"), superlative form of P.Gmc. *maiz, root of O.E. ma, mara (see more). Used in O.E. as superl. of micel "great, large" (see mickle). Vowel influenced by more. Original sense of "greatest" survives in phrase for the most part (c.1400). Slang meaning "the best, extremely good" is attested from 1953. Double superlative mostest is 1885, from U.S. Southern and Black English.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: part
Pronunciation: 'pärt
Function: noun
1 : one of several or many like units into which something is divided or of which it iscomposed : a proportional division or ingredient parts of water> parts oxygen>
2 : a portion of an animal body: as a : an essential anatomical element : ORGAN, MEMBER 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 part with warm water>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

part (pärt)
n.

  1. A portion, division, piece, or segment of a whole.

  2. Any of several equal portions or fractions that can constitute a whole or into which a whole can be divided.

  3. An organ, a member, or another division of an organism.

  4. An anatomical part; pars.

  5. parts The external genitalia.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

for the most part

In general, usually. For example, For the most part she is very good-humored, or The committee members agree for the most part. [Late 1300s] Also see the synonyms by and large; on the whole.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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