Library / English Dictionary

    PIECE

    Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

     I. (noun) 

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    A portable gunplay

    Example:

    he wore his firearm in a shoulder holster

    Synonyms:

    firearm; piece; small-arm

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

    gun (a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel))

    Meronyms (parts of "piece"):

    firing pin (striker that ignites the charge by striking the primer)

    lock (a mechanism that detonates the charge of a gun)

    sights (an optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument)

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

    autoloader; self-loader (a firearm that reloads itself)

    muzzle loader (an obsolete firearm that was loaded through the muzzle)

    handgun; pistol; shooting iron; side arm (a firearm that is held and fired with one hand)

    repeater; repeating firearm (a firearm that can fire several rounds without reloading)

    rifle (a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore)

    riot gun (a firearm designed to disperse rioters rather than to inflict serious injury or death)

    scattergun; shotgun (firearm that is a double-barreled smoothbore shoulder weapon for firing shot at short ranges)

    smoothbore (a firearm that has no rifling)

    .22; twenty-two (a .22 caliber firearm (pistol or rifle))

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    Game equipment consisting of an object used in playing certain board gamesplay

    Example:

    he sacrificed a piece to get a strategic advantage

    Synonyms:

    man; piece

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

    game equipment (equipment or apparatus used in playing a game)

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

    white ((board games) the lighter pieces)

    tile (game equipment consisting of a flat thin piece marked with characters and used in board games like Mah-Jong, Scrabble, etc.)

    chess piece; chessman (any of 16 white and 16 black pieces used in playing the game of chess)

    checker; chequer (one of the flat round pieces used in playing the game of checkers)

    black ((board games) the darker pieces)

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    A work of art of some artistic valueplay

    Example:

    it is not known who created this piece

    Synonyms:

    art object; objet d'art; piece

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

    work of art (art that is a product of one of the fine arts (especially a painting or sculpture of artistic merit))

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

    virtu (objet d'art collectively (especially fine antiques))

    Sense 4

    Meaning:

    A separate part of a wholeplay

    Example:

    an important piece of the evidence

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

    part; portion (something less than the whole of a human artifact)

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

    beam (long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction)

    piece of cloth; piece of material (a separate part consisting of fabric)

    piece of leather (a separate part consisting of leather)

    scrap (a small piece of something that is left over after the rest has been used)

    fragment; shard; sherd (a broken piece of a brittle artifact)

    snip; snippet; snipping (a small piece of anything (especially a piece that has been snipped off))

    spindle (a piece of wood that has been turned on a lathe; used as a baluster, chair leg, etc.)

    Derivation:

    piece (repair by adding pieces)

    piece (to join or unite the pieces of)

    piece (create by putting components or members together)

    Sense 5

    Meaning:

    An item that is an instance of some typeplay

    Example:

    my dog swallowed a Lego part

    Synonyms:

    part; piece

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

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

    Sense 6

    Meaning:

    A distanceplay

    Example:

    it is down the road a piece

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

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

    distance (the property created by the space between two objects or points)

    Sense 7

    Meaning:

    An artistic or literary compositionplay

    Example:

    the children acted out a comic piece to amuse the guests

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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

    creation (an artifact that has been brought into existence by someone)

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

    hiatus (a missing piece (as a gap in a manuscript))

    fragment (an incomplete piece)

    afterpiece (a brief dramatic piece (usually comic) presented after a play)

    morceau (a short literary or musical composition)

    article (nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication)

    Sense 8

    Meaning:

    A musical work that has been createdplay

    Example:

    the composition is written in four movements

    Synonyms:

    composition; musical composition; opus; piece; piece of music

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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

    music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

    Meronyms (parts of "piece"):

    coda; finale (the closing section of a musical composition)

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

    etude (a short composition for a solo instrument; intended as an exercise or to demonstrate technical virtuosity)

    idyl; idyll; pastoral; pastorale (a musical composition that evokes rural life)

    toccata (a baroque musical composition (usually for a keyboard instrument) with full chords and rapid elaborate runs in a rhythmically free style)

    fantasia (a musical composition of a free form usually incorporating several familiar themes)

    musical passage; passage (a short section of a musical composition)

    movement (a major self-contained part of a symphony or sonata)

    largo ((music) a composition or passage that is to be performed in a slow and dignified manner)

    larghetto ((music) a composition or passage played in a slow tempo slightly faster than largo but slower than adagio)

    suite (a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected)

    symphonic poem; tone poem (an orchestral composition based on literature or folk tales)

    medley; pastiche; potpourri (a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources)

    nocturne; notturno (a pensive lyrical piece of music (especially for the piano))

    adagio ((music) a composition played in adagio tempo (slowly and gracefully))

    song; vocal (a short musical composition with words)

    study (a composition intended to develop one aspect of the performer's technique)

    capriccio (an instrumental composition that doesn't adhere to rules for any specific musical form and is played with improvisation)

    motet (an unaccompanied choral composition with sacred lyrics; intended to be sung as part of a church service; originated in the 13th century)

    program music; programme music (musical compositions intended to evoke images or remind the listener of events)

    incidental music (music composed to accompany the action of a drama or to fill intervals between scenes)

    morceau (a short literary or musical composition)

    sheet music (a musical composition in printed or written form)

    arrangement; musical arrangement (a piece of music that has been adapted for performance by a particular set of voices or instruments)

    realisation; realization (a musical composition that has been completed or enriched by someone other than the composer)

    intermezzo (a short piece of instrumental music composed for performance between acts of a drama or opera)

    allegro (a musical composition or musical passage to be performed quickly in a brisk lively manner)

    allegretto (a musical composition or musical passage to be performed at a somewhat quicker tempo than andante but not as fast as allegro)

    andante (a musical composition or musical passage to be performed moderately slow)

    introit (a composition of vocal music that is appropriate for opening church services)

    solo (a musical composition for one voice or instrument (with or without accompaniment))

    canon (a contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part is imitated exactly in other parts)

    divertimento; serenade (a musical composition in several movements; has no fixed form)

    bagatelle (a light piece of music for piano)

    octet; octette (a musical composition written for eight performers)

    septet; septette (a musical composition written for seven performers)

    sestet; sextet; sextette (a musical composition written for six performers)

    quintet; quintette (a musical composition for five performers)

    quartet; quartette (a musical composition for four performers)

    trio (a musical composition for three performers)

    duet; duette; duo (a musical composition for two performers)

    Sense 9

    Meaning:

    An instance of some kindplay

    Example:

    he had a bit of good luck

    Synonyms:

    bit; piece

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting natural events

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

    case; example; instance (an occurrence of something)

    Sense 10

    Meaning:

    A serving that has been cut from a larger portionplay

    Example:

    a slice of bread

    Synonyms:

    piece; slice

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting foods and drinks

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

    helping; portion; serving (an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal)

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

    cutlet; escallop; scallop; scollop (thin slice of meat (especially veal) usually fried or broiled)

    filet; fillet; fish filet; fish fillet (a longitudinal slice or boned side of a fish)

    Derivation:

    piece (eat intermittently; take small bites of)

    Sense 11

    Meaning:

    A portion of a natural objectplay

    Example:

    he needed a piece of granite

    Synonyms:

    part; piece

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

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

    thing (a separate and self-contained entity)

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

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

    strip (a relatively long narrow piece of something)

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

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

    nub; stub (a small piece)

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

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

    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)

    Instance hyponyms:

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

    North Atlantic (that part of the Atlantic 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 ("piece" is a part of...):

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

    Sense 12

    Meaning:

    A share of somethingplay

    Example:

    a slice of the company's revenue

    Synonyms:

    piece; slice

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

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

    part; percentage; portion; share (assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group)

    Sense 13

    Meaning:

    A period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or conditionplay

    Example:

    a patch of bad weather

    Synonyms:

    patch; piece; spell; while

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

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

    time (an indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities))

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

    snap (a spell of cold weather)

    hot spell (a spell of hot weather)

    cold snap; cold spell (a spell of cold weather)

     II. (verb) 

    Verb forms

    Present simple: I / you / we / they piece  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it pieces  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Past simple: pieced  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Past participle: pieced  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    -ing form: piecing  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    Repair by adding piecesplay

    Example:

    She pieced the china cup

    Synonyms:

    patch; piece

    Classified under:

    Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

    bushel; doctor; fix; furbish up; mend; repair; restore; touch on (restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Derivation:

    piece (a separate part of a whole)

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    Eat intermittently; take small bites ofplay

    Example:

    She never eats a full meal--she just nibbles

    Synonyms:

    nibble; pick; piece

    Classified under:

    Verbs of eating and drinking

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

    eat (take in solid food)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Derivation:

    piece (a serving that has been cut from a larger portion)

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    Join during spinningplay

    Example:

    piece the broken pieces of thread, slivers, and rovings

    Classified under:

    Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

    splice (join by interweaving strands)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Sense 4

    Meaning:

    To join or unite the pieces ofplay

    Example:

    patch the skirt

    Synonyms:

    patch; piece

    Classified under:

    Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

    conjoin; join (make contact or come together)

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

    vamp; vamp up (piece (something old) with a new part)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s something with something

    Sentence example:

    They piece the cape


    Derivation:

    piece (a separate part of a whole)

    Sense 5

    Meaning:

    Create by putting components or members togetherplay

    Example:

    They set up a committee

    Synonyms:

    assemble; piece; put together; set up; tack; tack together

    Classified under:

    Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

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

    join (cause to become joined or linked)

    create; make (make or cause to be or to become)

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

    comfit; confect; confection (make into a confection)

    confuse; jumble; mix up (assemble without order or sense)

    reassemble (assemble once again, after taking something apart)

    configure (set up for a particular purpose)

    compound (create by mixing or combining)

    rig up (erect or construct, especially as a temporary measure)

    Sentence frames:

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

    Derivation:

    piece (a separate part of a whole)

    Credits

     Context examples: 

    These are short pieces of RNA designed and built with specific sequences that interfere with production of key proteins crucial for survival of the virus without interfering with any processes in uninfected cells.

    (Lipid Nanoparticle Therapeutic Treats Ebola in Monkeys, NIH)

    Our two professors sat in absorbed argument, examining piece after piece, which showed the marks of savage teeth and of enormous claws.

    (The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

    Give it me, and a piece of bread.

    (Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

    As you begin November, you may still be piecing together what needs to be done.

    (AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

    "With Hubble, now we know that a little piece of Proteus got left behind and we see it today as Hippocamp."

    (Tiny Neptune Moon Spotted by Hubble May Have Broken from Larger Moon, NASA)

    Small pieces of DNA or RNA that can bind to specific molecules of RNA.

    (Antisense agent, NCI Dictionary)

    Small pieces of DNA that can bind to specific molecules of RNA and block the cell’s ability to use the RNA to make a protein or work in other ways.

    (antisense DNA, NCI Dictionary)

    The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the scene of the struggle.

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

    These plaques are made up of a small protein chain called beta-amyloid, along with other proteins and pieces of nerve cells.

    (Alzheimer’s protein may have natural antibiotic role, NIH)

    "Now I'm ready," said Amy, shutting the wardrobe and taking a piece of paper out of her pocket.

    (Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)


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