part definition | Dictionary.com

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.

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.

part.

1.	participial.

2.	participle.

3.	particular.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To part

part (pärt)

A portion, division, piece, or segment of a whole.
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.
A division of a literary work: a novel in three parts.
(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.
A component that can be separated from or attached to a system; a detachable piece: spare parts for cars.
A role: He has the main part in the play.
One's responsibility, duty, or obligation; share: We each do our part to keep the house clean.
Individual endowment or ability; talent. Often used in the plural.
A region, area, land, or territory. Often used in the plural: "Minding your own business is second nature in these parts" (Boston).
The line where the hair on the head is parted.
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.

To divide or break into separate parts.
To break up (a relationship) by separating the elements involved: parted company.
To put or keep apart: No one could part the two friends.
To comb (hair, for example) away from a dividing line, as on the scalp.
Archaic To divide into shares or portions.

v. intr.

To become divided or separated: The curtain parted in the middle.
To go apart from one another; separate: They parted as friends. They were forced to part from one another. See Synonyms at separate.
To separate or divide into ways going in different directions: The road parts about halfway into the forest.
To go away; depart.
To disagree by factions: The committee parted over the issue of pay raises for employees.
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

Part

Part\, n. [F. part, L. pars, gen. partis; cf. parere to bring forth, produce. Cf. Parent, Depart, Parcel, Partner, Party, Portion.]

1. One of the portions, equal or unequal, into which anything is divided, or regarded as divided; something less than a whole; a number, quantity, mass, or the like, regarded as going to make up, with others, a larger number, quantity, mass, etc., whether actually separate or not; a piece; a fragment; a fraction; a division; a member; a constituent.

And kept back part of the price, . . . and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles'feet. --Acts v. 2.

Our ideas of extension and number -- do they not contain a secret relation of the parts ? --Locke.

I am a part of all that I have met. --Tennyson.

2. Hence, specifically: (a) An equal constituent portion; one of several or many like quantities, numbers, etc., into which anything is divided, or of which it is composed; proportional division or ingredient.

An homer is the tenth part of an ephah. --Ex. xvi. 36.

A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom, And ever three parts coward. --Shak. (b) A constituent portion of a living or spiritual whole; a member; an organ; an essential element.

All the parts were formed . . . into one harmonious body. --Locke.

The pulse, the glow of every part. --Keble. (c) A constituent of character or capacity; quality; faculty; talent; -- usually in the plural with a collective sense. "Men of considerable parts." --Burke. "Great quickness of parts." --Macaulay.

Which maintained so politic a state of evil, that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them. --Shak. (d) Quarter; region; district; -- usually in the plural. "The uttermost part of the heaven." --Neh. i. 9.

All parts resound with tumults, plaints, and fears. --Dryden. (e) (Math.) Such portion of any quantity, as when taken a certain number of times, will exactly make that quantity; as, 3 is a part of 12; -- the opposite of multiple. Also, a line or other element of a geometrical figure.

3. That which belongs to one, or which is assumed by one, or which falls to one, in a division or apportionment; share; portion; lot; interest; concern; duty; office.

We have no part in David. --2 Sam. xx. 1.

Accuse not Nature! she hath done her part; Do thou but thine. --Milton.

Let me bear My part of danger with an equal share. --Dryden.

4. Hence, specifically: (a) One of the opposing parties or sides in a conflict or a controversy; a faction.

For he that is not against us is on our part. --Mark ix. 40.

Make whole kingdoms take her brother's part. --Waller. (b) A particular character in a drama or a play; an assumed personification; also, the language, actions, and influence of a character or an actor in a play; or, figuratively, in real life. See To act a part, under Act.

That part Was aptly fitted and naturally performed. --Shak.

It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf. --Shak.

Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part, there all the honor lies. --Pope. (c) (Mus.) One of the different melodies of a concerted composition, which heard in union compose its harmony; also, the music for each voice or instrument; as, the treble, tenor, or bass part; the violin part, etc.

For my part, so far as concerns me; for my share.

For the most part. See under Most, a.

In good part, as well done; favorably; acceptably; in a friendly manner. --Hooker.

In ill part, unfavorably; with displeasure.

In part, in some degree; partly.

Part and parcel, an essential or constituent portion; -- a reduplicative phrase. Cf. might and main, kith and kin, etc. "She was . . . part and parcel of the race and place." --Howitt.

Part of speech (Gram.), a sort or class of words of a particular character; thus, the noun is a part of speech denoting the name of a thing; the verb is a part of speech which asserts something of the subject of a sentence.

Part owner (Law), one of several owners or tenants in common. See Joint tenant, under Joint.

Part singing, singing in which two or more of the harmonic parts are taken.

Part song, a song in two or more (commonly four) distinct vocal parts. "A part song differs from a madrigal in its exclusion of contrapuntual devices; from a glee, in its being sung by many voices, instead of by one only, to each part." --Stainer & Barrett.

Syn: Portion; section; division; fraction; fragment; piece; share; constituent. See Portion, and Section.

Part

Part\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Parted; p. pr. & vb. n. Parting.] [F. partir, L. partire, partiri, p. p. partitus, fr. pars, gen. partis, a part. See Part, n.]

1. To divide; to separate into distinct parts; to break into two or more parts or pieces; to sever. "Thou shalt part it in pieces." --Lev. ii. 6.

There, [celestial love] parted into rainbow hues. --Keble.

2. To divide into shares; to divide and distribute; to allot; to apportion; to share.

To part his throne, and share his heaven with thee. --Pope.

They parted my raiment among them. --John xix. 24.

3. To separate or disunite; to cause to go apart; to remove from contact or contiguity; to sunder.

The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. --Ruth i. 17.

While he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. --Luke xxiv. 51.

The narrow seas that part The French and English. --Shak.

4. Hence: To hold apart; to stand between; to intervene betwixt, as combatants.

The stumbling night did part our weary powers. --Shak.

5. To separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or secretion; as, to part gold from silver.

The liver minds his own affair, . . . And parts and strains the vital juices. --Prior.

6. To leave; to quit. [Obs.]

Since presently your souls must part your bodies. --Shak.

To part a cable (Naut.), to break it.

To part company, to separate, as travelers or companions.

Part

Part\, v. i. 1. To be broken or divided into parts or pieces; to break; to become separated; to go asunder; as, rope parts; his hair parts in the middle.

2. To go away; to depart; to take leave; to quit each other; hence, to die; -- often with from.

He wrung Bassanio's hand, and so they parted. --Shak.

He owned that he had parted from the duke only a few hours before. --Macaulay.

His precious bag, which he would by no means part from. --G. Eliot.

3. To perform an act of parting; to relinquish a connection of any kind; -- followed by with or from.

Celia, for thy sake, I part With all that grew so near my heart. --Waller.

Powerful hands . . . will not part Easily from possession won with arms. --Milton.

It was strange to him that a father should feel no tenderness at parting with an only son. --A. Trollope.

4. To have a part or share; to partake. [Obs.] "They shall part alike." --1 Sam. xxx. 24.

Part

Part\, adv. Partly; in a measure. [R.] --Shak.

Language Translation for : part

Spanish: parte,

German: der Teil,

Japanese: 部分

More Translations »

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.

part (v.)

c.1275, "to divide into parts," from O.Fr. partir "to divide, separate," from L. partire, from pars (see part (n.)). Sense of "to separate (someone from someone else)" is from c.1315; that of "to take leave" is from 1426. Meaning "to separate the hair" is attested from 1615.

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>

part (pärt)
n.

A portion, division, piece, or segment of a whole.
Any of several equal portions or fractions that can constitute a whole or into which a whole can be divided.
An organ, a member, or another division of an organism.
An anatomical part; pars.
parts The external genitalia.

part

In addition to the idioms beginning with part, also see best part of; better half (part of); discretion is the better part of valor; do one's bit (part); fool and his money are soon parted; for one's part; for the most part; in good part; in part; take part; take someone's part.

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