in part

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

part /pɑrt/   n. 

1. 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.
2. an essential, necessary, or basic quality:
   [uncountable] A sense of humor is part of a healthy personality.
3. a portion, piece, or organ of an animal body:
   [countable] learning the names of body parts in English.
4. any of a number of quantities or proportions that make up a whole:
   [countable] Use three parts olive oil and one part wine vinegar.
5. a portion given out;
   a share:
   [countable] This part is mine; you can't have it.
6. 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.
7. the dividing line formed in separating the hair of the head when combing it:
   [countable] His part was crooked.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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?
12. 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. 

13. 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.
14. 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.
15. Nautical, Naval Terms to (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.
16. to comb (the hair) away from a dividing line:
    [~ + object] He parted his hair on the right.
17. 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]

18. partial;
    not total or complete:
    part payment.

adv. 

19. in part;
    partly:
    He's part crazy, part mean.

Idioms

20. Idioms for one's part, as far as (something) concerns one:
    For my part, you can do whatever you please.
21. Idioms in part, in some measure or degree:
    We're losing money — in part because, with our ancient computers, we can't stay competitive.
22. Idioms on the part of, as done by;
    by (someone):
    too much rowdiness on the part of the class.
23. Idioms part and parcel, an essential part that must not be ignored:
    Unemployment is part and parcel of the bigger problem, a sagging economy.
24. Idioms take part, [~ ( + in + object)] to participate;
    share or partake:
    He refused to take part in the festivities.
25. Idioms take someone's part, to support or defend someone:
    I'll take your part when times get rough.

See -par-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

part  (pärt), n. 

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.
7. 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.
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. Mechanical Engineering 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 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.
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.
15. Idioms for one's part, as far as concerns one:
    For my part, you can do whatever you please.
16. Idioms for the most part, with respect to the greatest part;
    on the whole;
    generally;
    usually;
    mostly:
    They are good students, for the most part.
17. Idioms in 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.
18. Idioms in part, in some measure or degree;
    to some extent;
    partly;
    partially:
    The crop failure was due in part to unusual weather conditions.
19. Idioms on 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. 
20. Idioms part and parcel, an essential, necessary, or integral part:
    Her love for her child was part and parcel of her life.
21. Idioms take part, to participate;
    share or partake:
    They refused to take part in any of the activities of the community.
22. Idioms take someone's part, to align oneself with;
    support;
    defend:
    His parents took his part, even though he was obviously in the wrong.

v.t. 

23. to divide (a thing) into parts;
    break;
    cleave;
    divide.
24. to comb (the hair) away from a dividing line.
25. to divide into shares;
    distribute in parts;
    apportion.
26. to put or keep apart;
    separate:
    They parted the calves from the herd.
27. Metallurgy
    • Metallurgy to separate (silver) from gold in refining.
    • Metallurgy to cut (one part) away from a piece, as an end from a billet.
    • Metallurgy to keep the surface of (a casting) separate from the sand of the mold.
28. [Obs.] to leave.

v.i. 

29. to be or become divided into parts;
    break or cleave:
    The oil tanker parted amidships.
30. to go or come apart;
    separate, as two or more things.
31. to go apart from or leave one another, as persons:
    We'll part no more.
32. to be or become separated from something else (usually fol. by from).
33. Nautical, Naval Terms to break or become torn apart, as a cable.
34. to depart.
35. to die.
36. Idioms part 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.
37. part with, to give up (property, control, etc.);
    relinquish:
    to part with one's money.

adj. 

38. partial;
    of a part:
    part owner.

adv. 

39. 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

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.
• 26. sever, sunder, dissociate, disconnect, disjoin, detach.

Antonyms

• 1. whole.
• 23. join.

part., 

1. Grammar participial.
2. Grammar participle.
3. particular.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

part / pɑːt/ noun

1. a piece or portion of a whole
2. an integral constituent of something: dancing is part of what we teach
3. an amount less than the whole; bit: they only recovered part of the money
4. one of several equal or nearly equal divisions: mix two parts flour to one part water
5. an actor's role in a play
6. a person's proper role or duty: we all must do our part
7. (often plural) region; area: you're well known in these parts
8. any portion of a larger structure
9. a component that can be replaced in a machine, engine, etc: spare parts
10. the line of scalp showing when sections of hair are combed in opposite directions
    British equivalent: parting
11. one of a number of separate melodic lines making up the texture of music
12. such a line performed from a separately written or printed copy
    See part song
13. for the most part ⇒ generally
14. in part ⇒ to some degree; partly
15. of many parts ⇒ having many different abilities
16. on the part of ⇒ on behalf of
17. part and parcel ⇒ an essential ingredient
18. play a part ⇒ to pretend to be what one is not
19. (followed by in) to have something to do (with); be instrumental (in): to play a part in the king's downfall
20. take in good part ⇒ to respond to (teasing) with good humour
21. take part in ⇒ to participate in
22. take someone's part ⇒ to support someone in an argument

verb

1. to divide or separate from one another; take or come apart: to part the curtains, the seams parted when I washed the dress
2. to go away or cause to go away from one another; stop or cause to stop seeing each other: the couple parted amicably
3. (intransitive) followed by from: to leave; say goodbye (to)
4. (intransitive) followed by with: to relinquish, esp reluctantly: I couldn't part with my teddy bear
5. (transitive) followed by from: to cause to relinquish, esp reluctantly: he's not easily parted from his cash
6. (intransitive) to split; separate: the path parts here
7. (transitive) to arrange (the hair) in such a way that a line of scalp is left showing
8. (intransitive)
   a euphemism for die11
9. (intransitive) to depart

adverb

1. to some extent; partly

Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin partīre to divide, from pars a part