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apart

 - 4 dictionary results

a⋅part

[uh-pahrt]
–adverb
1. into pieces or parts; to pieces: to take a watch apart; an old barn falling apart from decay.
2. separately in place, time, motion, etc.: New York and Tokyo are thousands of miles apart. Our birthdays are three days apart.
3. to or at one side, with respect to place, purpose, or function: to put money apart for education; to keep apart from the group out of pride.
4. separately or individually in consideration: each factor viewed apart from the others.
5. aside (used with a gerund or noun): Joking apart, what do you think?
–adjective
6. having independent or unique qualities, features, or characteristics (usually used following the noun it modifies): a class apart.
7. take apart,
a. to disassemble: to take a clock apart.
b. Informal. to criticize; attack: She was taken apart for her controversial stand.
c. to subject to intense examination: He will take your feeble excuses apart.
8. apart from, aside from; in addition to; besides: Apart from other considerations, time is a factor.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < OF a part to one side. See a- 5 , part


a⋅part⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To apart
a·part   (ə-pärt')   
adv.  
    1. At a distance in place, position, or time: railings spaced two feet apart; born three years apart.

    2. Away from another or others: grew apart over the years; decided to live apart.

  1. In or into parts or pieces: split apart.

  2. One from another: I can't tell the twins apart.

  3. Aside or in reserve, as for a separate use or purpose: funds set apart for the project.

  4. As a distinct item or entity: Quality sets it apart.

  5. So as to except or exclude from consideration; aside: All joking apart, I think you're wrong.

adj.  Set apart; isolated. Used after a noun or in the predicate: a people who have existed over the centuries as a world apart.

[Middle English, from Old French a part : a, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + part, side (from Latin pars, part-; see part).]
a·part'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

apart 
c.1380, from O.Fr. à part "to the side," from L. ad "to" + partem acc. of pars "a side."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

apart

In addition to the idiom beginning with apart, also see come apart; fall apart; pick apart; poles apart; set apart; take apart; tear apart; tell apart.

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