Library / English Dictionary

PART

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group

Example:

play its role

Synonyms:

function; office; part; role

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

duty (work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

capacity (a specified function)

hat (an informal term for a person's role)

portfolio (the role of the head of a government department)

lieu; place; position; stead (the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another)

second fiddle (a secondary role or function)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The effort contributed by a person in bringing about a result

Example:

they all did their share of the work

Synonyms:

contribution; part; share

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

attempt; effort; endeavor; endeavour; try (earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

end (the part you are expected to play)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Something less than the whole of a human artifact

Example:

glue the two parts together

Synonyms:

part; portion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

appendage (a part that is joined to something larger)

bit (the part of a key that enters a lock and lifts the tumblers)

bottleneck (the narrow part of a bottle near the top)

bulb (a rounded part of a cylindrical instrument (usually at one end))

butt; stub (the small unused part of something (especially the end of a cigarette that is left after smoking))

component; constituent; element (an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system)

cutout (a part that is cut out or is intended to be cut out)

foible (the weaker part of a sword's blade from the forte to the tip)

fore edge; foredge (the part of a book that faces inward when the book is shelved; the part opposite the spine)

forte (the stronger part of a sword blade between the hilt and the foible)

fraction (a small part or item forming a piece of a whole)

heel ((golf) the part of the clubhead where it joins the shaft)

hub (the central part of a car wheel (or fan or propeller etc) through which the shaft or axle passes)

jetsam (the part of a ship's equipment or cargo that is thrown overboard to lighten the load in a storm)

limb (either of the two halves of a bow from handle to tip)

neck (a narrow part of an artifact that resembles a neck in position or form)

peen (the part of a hammerhead opposite the flat striking surface (may have various shapes))

piece (a separate part of a whole)

pressing (a metal or plastic part that is made by a mechanical press)

seat (a part of a machine that supports or guides another part)

section; segment (one of several parts or pieces that fit with others to constitute a whole object)

shank; waist (the narrow part of the shoe connecting the heel and the wide part of the sole)

backbone; spine (the part of a book's cover that encloses the inner side of the book's pages and that faces outward when the book is shelved)

toe ((golf) the part of a clubhead farthest from the shaft)

turnout; widening (a part of a road that has been widened to allow cars to pass or park)

upstage (the rear part of the stage)

upstairs (the part of a building above the ground floor)

wreckage (the remaining parts of something that has been wrecked)

Holonyms ("part" is a part of...):

unit; whole (an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity)

Derivation:

partial (being or affecting only a part; not total)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An item that is an instance of some type

Example:

my dog swallowed a Lego part

Synonyms:

part; piece

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

item (a whole individual unit; especially when included in a list or collection)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A line of scalp that can be seen when sections of hair are combed in opposite directions

Example:

his part was right in the middle

Synonyms:

part; parting

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

line (a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent)

Holonyms ("part" is a part of...):

hair (a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss)

Sense 6

Meaning:

That which concerns a person with regard to a particular role or situation

Example:

they resisted every effort on his part

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

concern (something that interests you because it is important or affects you)

Sense 7

Meaning:

One of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole

Example:

the BBC's engineering division

Synonyms:

division; part; section

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

concept; conception; construct (an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

frame (one of the ten divisions into which bowling is divided)

beginning (the first part or section of something)

middle (an intermediate part or section)

end (a final part or section)

high point (the most enjoyable part of a given experience)

component; constituent; element; factor; ingredient (an abstract part of something)

chukka; chukker ((polo) one of six divisions into which a polo match is divided)

frame; inning ((baseball) one of nine divisions of play during which each team has a turn at bat)

game ((tennis) a division of play during which one player serves)

bout; round; turn ((sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive)

first period (the first division into which the play of a game is divided)

second period (the second division into which the play of a game is divided)

final period (the final division into which the play of a game is divided)

half (one of two divisions into which some games or performances are divided: the two divisions are separated by an interval)

period ((ice hockey) one of three divisions into which play is divided in hockey games)

quarter ((football, professional basketball) one of four divisions into which some games are divided)

over ((cricket) the division of play during which six balls are bowled at the batsman by one player from the other team from the same end of the pitch)

Holonyms ("part" is a part of...):

whole (all of something including all its component elements or parts)

Sense 8

Meaning:

An actor's portrayal of someone in a play

Example:

she played the part of Desdemona

Synonyms:

character; part; persona; role; theatrical role

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

characterization; enactment; personation; portrayal (acting the part of a character on stage; dramatically representing the character by speech and action and gesture)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

bit part; minor role (a small role)

heavy (a serious (or tragic) role in a play)

hero (the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem)

ingenue (the role of an innocent artless young woman in a play)

name part; title role (the role of the character after whom the play is named)

heroine (the main good female character in a work of fiction)

baddie; villain (the principal bad character in a film or work of fiction)

Sense 9

Meaning:

The melody carried by a particular voice or instrument in polyphonic music

Example:

he tried to sing the tenor part

Synonyms:

part; voice

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

air; line; melodic line; melodic phrase; melody; strain; tune (a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

primo (the principal part of a duet (especially a piano duet))

secondo (the second or lower part of a duet (especially a piano duet))

voice part (a part written for a singer)

accompaniment; backup; musical accompaniment; support (a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts)

bass; bass part (the lowest part in polyphonic music)

Sense 10

Meaning:

The extended spatial location of something

Example:

regions of outer space

Synonyms:

part; region

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

location (a point or extent in space)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

air; atmosphere (the mass of air surrounding the Earth)

biosphere (the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist)

depths ((plural) the deepest and most remote part)

interplanetary space (the part of outer space within the solar system)

interstellar space (the space between stars)

heliosphere (the region inside the heliopause containing the sun and solar system)

intergalactic space (the space between galaxies)

deep space (any region in space outside the solar system)

aerospace (the atmosphere and outer space considered as a whole)

zone (an area or region distinguished from adjacent parts by a distinctive feature or characteristic)

belt (an elongated region where a specific condition or characteristic is found)

bottom (the lowest part of anything)

county ((United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government)

distance (a distant region)

Eden; heaven; nirvana; paradise; promised land; Shangri-la (any place of complete bliss and delight and peace)

extremity (the outermost or farthest region or point)

hell; hell on earth; hellhole; inferno; snake pit; the pits (any place of pain and turmoil)

inside; interior (the region that is inside of something)

ionosphere (the outer region of the Earth's atmosphere; contains a high concentration of free electrons)

layer (a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another)

exterior; outside (the region that is outside of something)

radius (a circular region whose area is indicated by the length of its radius)

side (a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location)

air (the region above the ground)

vacuity; vacuum (a region that is devoid of matter)

top (the upper part of anything)

zodiac (a belt-shaped region in the heavens on either side to the ecliptic; divided into 12 constellations or signs for astrological purposes)

house; mansion; planetary house; sign; sign of the zodiac; star sign ((astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided)

Papua (the southeastern part of Papua New Guinea)

Sind (a region of southeastern Pakistan)

black hole (a region of space resulting from the collapse of a star; extremely high gravitational field)

Edgeworth-Kuiper belt; Kuiper belt (a disk-shaped region of minor planets outside the orbit of Neptune)

mare; maria (a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon)

Instance hyponyms:

D-layer; D region (the lowest region of the ionosphere (35 to 50 miles up) that reflects low-frequency radio waves)

Appleton layer; F layer; F region (the highest region of the ionosphere (from 90 to 600 miles up) which contains the highest concentration of free electrons and is most useful for long-range radio transmission)

E layer; E region; Heaviside layer; Kennelly-Heaviside layer (a region of the ionosphere (from 50 to 90 miles up) that reflects radio waves of medium length)

Achaea (a region of ancient Greece on the north coast of the Peloponnese)

Doris (a small region of ancient Greece where the Doric dialect was spoken)

Cynoscephalae (the fields in Thessaly where in 197 BC the Romans defeated the Macedonians)

Transylvania (a historical plateau region in northwestern Romania that is separated from the rest of the country by the Transylvanian Alps; originally part of Hungary; incorporated into Romania at the end of World War I)

Rand; Reef; Witwatersrand (a rocky region in the southern Transvaal in northeastern South Africa; contains rich gold deposits and coal and manganese)

Sense 11

Meaning:

A portion of a natural object

Example:

he needed a piece of granite

Synonyms:

part; piece

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

thing (a separate and self-contained entity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

body part (any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity)

corpus (the main part of an organ or other bodily structure)

acicula (a needlelike part or structure of a plant or animal or crystal; as a spine or bristle or crystal)

base (the bottom or lowest part)

corner (a projecting part where two sides or edges meet)

craton (the part of a continent that is stable and forms the central mass of the continent; typically Precambrian)

cutting (a piece cut off from the main part of something)

fragment (a piece broken off or cut off of something else)

hunk; lump (a large piece of something without definite shape)

nub; stub (a small piece)

segment (one of the parts into which something naturally divides)

slice (a thin flat piece cut off of some object)

strip (a relatively long narrow piece of something)

world (a part of the earth that can be considered separately)

Instance hyponyms:

North Atlantic (that part of the Atlantic Ocean to the north of the equator)

North Pacific (that part of the Pacific Ocean to the north of the equator)

South Atlantic (that part of the Atlantic Ocean to the south of the equator)

South Pacific (that part of the Pacific Ocean to the south of the equator)

Holonyms ("part" is a part of...):

building block; unit (a single undivided natural thing occurring in the composition of something else)

Sense 12

Meaning:

Assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group

Example:

he wanted his share in cash

Synonyms:

part; percentage; portion; share

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

assets (anything of material value or usefulness that is owned by a person or company)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

tranche (a portion of something (especially money))

dispensation (a share that has been dispensed or distributed)

dole (a share of money or food or clothing that has been charitably given)

way (a portion of something divided into shares)

ration (a fixed portion that is allotted (especially in times of scarcity))

allowance (an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period))

piece; slice (a share of something)

split (a promised or claimed share of loot or money)

interest; stake ((law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something)

profit sharing (a system in which employees receive a share of the net profits of the business)

cut (a share of the profits)

allocation; allotment (a share set aside for a specific purpose)

Holonyms ("part" is a part of...):

earnings; lucre; net; net income; net profit; profit; profits (the excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses))

Sense 13

Meaning:

Something determined in relation to something that includes it

Example:

the animal constituent of plankton

Synonyms:

component; component part; constituent; part; portion

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Hypernyms ("part" is a kind of...):

relation (an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "part"):

substance (the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists)

language unit; linguistic unit (one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed)

item; point (a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list)

butt (the part of a plant from which the roots spring or the part of a stalk or trunk nearest the roots)

base; basis (the most important or necessary part of something)

detail; item; particular (a small part that can be considered separately from the whole)

unit (an individual or group or structure or other entity regarded as a structural or functional constituent of a whole)

member (anything that belongs to a set or class)

balance; remainder; residual; residue; residuum; rest (something left after other parts have been taken away)

subpart (a part of a part)

Holonyms ("part" is a part of...):

meronymy; part to whole relation (the semantic relation that holds between a part and the whole)

Derivation:

partial (being or affecting only a part; not total)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Force, take, or pull apart

Example:

Moses parted the Red Sea

Synonyms:

disunite; divide; part; separate

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "part" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Cause:

divide; part; separate (come apart)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "part"):

compartmentalise; compartmentalize; cut up (separate into isolated compartments or categories)

polarise; polarize (cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions)

isolate; keep apart; sequester; sequestrate; set apart (set apart from others)

disjoin; disjoint (make disjoint, separated, or disconnected; undo the joining of)

disarticulate; disjoint (separate at the joints)

disconnect (make disconnected, disjoin or unfasten)

cut (separate with or as if with an instrument)

tear (to separate or be separated by force)

joint (separate (meat) at the joint)

gin (separate the seeds from (cotton) with a cotton gin)

break (separate from a clinch, in boxing)

break up; sever (set or keep apart)

bust; rupture; snap; tear (separate or cause to separate abruptly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Sentence example:

They part their hair

Derivation:

partitive (serving to separate or divide into parts)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Come apart

Example:

The two pieces that we had glued separated

Synonyms:

divide; part; separate

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "part" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "part"):

subdivide (form into subdivisions)

polarise; polarize (become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation)

break up; calve (release ice)

break away; break off; chip; chip off; come off (break off (a piece from a whole))

disjoin; disjoint (become separated, disconnected or disjoint)

come away; come off; detach (come to be detached)

segregate (divide from the main body or mass and collect)

segment (divide or split up)

reduce (undergo meiosis)

section; segment (divide into segments)

partition; partition off (divide into parts, pieces, or sections)

discerp; dismember; take apart (divide into pieces)

gerrymander (divide unfairly and to one's advantage; of voting districts)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

partitive (serving to separate or divide into parts)

partitive (indicating or characterized by or serving to create partition or division into parts)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Leave

Example:

The family took off for Florida

Synonyms:

depart; part; set forth; set off; set out; start; start out; take off

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "part" is one way to...):

go away; go forth; leave (go away from a place)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "part"):

lift off; take off (depart from the ground)

roar off (leave)

blaze; blaze out (move rapidly and as if blazing)

sally forth; sally out (set out in a sudden, energetic or violent manner)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

part with (give up what is not strictly needed)

Derivation:

parting (the act of departing politely)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Go one's own way; move apart

Example:

The friends separated after the party

Synonyms:

part; separate; split

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "part" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "part"):

disperse; dissipate; scatter; spread out (move away from each other)

break up (come apart)

diffract (undergo diffraction)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

parting (the act of departing politely)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Discontinue an association or relation; go different ways

Example:

My friend and I split up

Synonyms:

break; break up; part; separate; split; split up

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "part"):

give the axe; give the bounce; give the gate (terminate a relationship abruptly)

break apart; disunify (break up or separate)

disassociate; disjoint; dissociate; disunite; divorce (part; cease or break association with)

break with (end a relationship)

divorce; split up (get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage)

break away; secede; splinter (withdraw from an organization or communion)

break; break away (interrupt a continued activity)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

 III. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

To some extent; in some degree; not wholly

Example:

He was partially paralyzed

Synonyms:

in part; part; partially; partly

Classified under:

Adverbs

Credits

 Context examples: 

As the FUS protein condenses (from droplets to gel) it captures RNA and transfers it to remote parts of the neuron that are involved in making connections (known as synapses) with other neurons.

(Mechanism behind neuron death in motor neurone disease and frontotemporal dementia discovered, University of Cambridge)

These two planets may be part of a larger system.

(Researchers find two new planets with masses similar to Earth’s near a small neighbouring star, University of Granada)

It was at once clear to me that it formed part of a very remarkable document.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The captain, on his part, never spoke but when he was spoken to, and then sharp and short and dry, and not a word wasted.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

A trifling part, said he, and not at all to my taste, and such a one as I certainly would not accept again; but I was determined to make no difficulties.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Every advance on his part was accompanied by a corresponding retreat on her part.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Well, that is part of the risk.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"What part of the States do you come from?" Messner asked.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Part of Mars’ job is to cleanse a situation or relationship.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I clutched at a gun—my pockets were full of cartridges—and, parting the thorn bushes at the gate of our zareba, quickly slipped out.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)