a separate or distinct portion of a whole; a piece; constituent: [countable]the rear part of the house.[uncountable]Part of the problem is your lack of organization.
an essential, necessary, or basic quality:[uncountable]A sense of humor is part of a healthy personality.
a portion, piece, or organ of an animal body:[countable]learning the names of body parts in English.
any of a number of quantities or proportions that make up a whole:[countable]Use three parts olive oil and one part wine vinegar.
a portion given out; a share:[countable]This part is mine; you can't have it.
either of the opposing sides in a contest, contract, etc.:[countable]The party of the first part —that's me— promises to pay the party of the second part —that's you— a just and fair price.
the dividing line formed in separating the hair of the head when combing it:[countable]His part was crooked.
Mechanical Engineering a basic piece of a machine or tool, esp. a replacement for the original piece:[countable]harder to get parts for foreign cars.
Music and Dance the written section of a piece of music assigned by the composer or arranger to a single performer or section of the band, orchestra, or chorus:[countable]an interesting trombone part in that jazz piece.
a section or division of a written work: [countable]a history of the world in six parts.[uncountable* before a number]Part 1 is very interesting, but Part 2 puts me right to sleep.
a person's participation, contribution, or concern in something: [uncountable]I had no part in hiring her.[countable* usually singular]Is there a useful part I can play in her life?
a role in a play or the lines that make up the role:[countable]That actress is fabulous playing the part of Lady Macbeth.
v.
to (cause to) be or become divided into parts; break up: [uncountable]Finally the storm clouds parted and the sun shone through.[~ + object]Moses lifted his staff, and God parted the Red Sea.
to (cause to) go apart from, or leave one another, as persons: [~ + object]till death do us part.[no object]We ought to be able to part as friends.
Nautical, Naval Termsto (cause to) break or become torn apart, as a cable: [no object]The cable parted, and the tram slid back down the hill.[~ + object]He parted the cable with his knife.
to comb (the hair) away from a dividing line:[~ + object]He parted his hair on the right.
part with, [~ + with + object] to give up, hand over, or relinquish:She couldn't bear to part with her favorite toy.
adj.[before a noun]
partial; not total or complete:part payment.
adv.
in part; partly:He's part crazy, part mean.
Idioms
Idiomsfor one's part, as far as (something) concerns one:For my part, you can do whatever you please.
Idiomsin part, in some measure or degree:We're losing money — in part because, with our ancient computers, we can't stay competitive.
Idiomson the part of, as done by; by (someone):too much rowdiness on the part of the class.
Idiomspart and parcel, an essential part that must not be ignored:Unemployment is part and parcel of the bigger problem, a sagging economy.
Idiomstake part, [~ ( +in +object)] to participate; share or partake:He refused to take part in the festivities.
Idiomstake someone's part, to support or defend someone:I'll take your part when times get rough.
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.
an essential or integral attribute or quality:a sense of humor is part of a healthy personality.
a section or division of a literary work.
a portion, member, or organ of an animal body.
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.
an allotted portion; share.
Usually, parts.
a region, quarter, or district:a journey to foreign parts.
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.
either of the opposing sides in a contest, question, agreement, etc.
the dividing line formed in separating the hair of the head and combing it in different directions.
Mechanical Engineeringa 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.
Music and Dance
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.
a section or division of a composition:the allegro part of the first movement.
participation, interest, or concern in something; role:The neighbors must have had some part in planning the surprise party.
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.
a character or role acted in a play or sustained in real life.
Idiomsfor one's part, as far as concerns one:For my part, you can do whatever you please.
Idiomsfor the most part, with respect to the greatest part; on the whole; generally; usually; mostly:They are good students, for the most part.
Idiomsin good part:
without offense; in a good-natured manner; amiably:She was able to take teasing in good part.
to a great extent; largely:His success is in good part ascribable to dogged determination.
Idiomsin part, in some measure or degree; to some extent; partly; partially:The crop failure was due in part to unusual weather conditions.
Idiomson the part of:
so far as pertains to or concerns one:He expressed appreciation on the part of himself and his colleagues.
as done or manifested by:attention on the part of the audience.Also, on one's part.
Idiomspart and parcel, an essential, necessary, or integral part:Her love for her child was part and parcel of her life.
Idiomstake part, to participate; share or partake:They refused to take part in any of the activities of the community.
Idiomstake someone's part, to align oneself with; support; defend:His parents took his part, even though he was obviously in the wrong.
v.t.
to divide (a thing) into parts; break; cleave; divide.
to comb (the hair) away from a dividing line.
to divide into shares; distribute in parts; apportion.
to put or keep apart; separate:They parted the calves from the herd.
Metallurgy
Metallurgyto separate (silver) from gold in refining.
Metallurgyto cut (one part) away from a piece, as an end from a billet.
Metallurgyto keep the surface of (a casting) separate from the sand of the mold.
[Obs.]to leave.
v.i.
to be or become divided into parts; break or cleave:The oil tanker parted amidships.
to go or come apart; separate, as two or more things.
to go apart from or leave one another, as persons:We'll part no more.
to be or become separated from something else (usually fol. by from).
Nautical, Naval Termsto break or become torn apart, as a cable.
to depart.
to die.
Idiomspart company:
to bid farewell or go separate ways; leave one another.
to dissolve a personal affiliation, relationship, etc., esp. because of irreconcilable differences.
to disagree.
part with, to give up (property, control, etc.); relinquish:to part with one's money.
adj.
partial; of a part:part owner.
adv.
in part; partly:part black.
Latin partīre, derivative of pars
Old French partir
Latin part- (stem of pars) piece, portion; (verb, verbal) Middle English parten
Latin), Old English
Old French
(noun, nominal) Middle English (bef. 1000
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged 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.See corresponding entry in Unabridged apportionment, lot.
13.See corresponding entry in Unabridged responsibility.