(~s, piecing, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ of something is an amount of it that has been broken off, torn off, or cut off.
...a ~ of cake.
...a few words scrawled on a ~ of paper...
Cut the ham into ~s...
Do you want another ~?
N-COUNT: usu N of n
2.
A ~ of an object is one of the individual parts or sections which it is made of, especially a part that can be removed.
The equipment was taken down the shaft in ~s.
= bit
N-COUNT
3.
A ~ of land is an area of land.
People struggle to get the best ~ of land.
N-COUNT: usu N of n
4.
You can use ~ of with many uncount nouns to refer to an individual thing of a particular kind. For example, you can refer to some advice as a ~ of advice.
When I produced this ~ of work, my lecturers were very critical...
...an interesting ~ of information.
...a sturdy ~ of furniture...
N-COUNT: N of n
5.
You can refer to an article in a newspaper or magazine, some music written by someone, a broadcast, or a play as a ~.
I disagree with Andrew Russell over his ~ on British Rail.
N-COUNT
6.
You can refer to a work of art as a ~. (FORMAL)
Each ~ is unique, an exquisite painting of a real person, done on ivory...
N-COUNT
7.
You can refer to specific coins as ~s. For example, a 10p ~ is a coin that is worth 10p.
N-COUNT: supp N
8.
The ~s which you use when you play a board game such as chess are the specially made objects which you move around on the board.
N-COUNT
9.
A ~ of something is part of it or a share of it. (AM)
They got a small ~ of the net profits and a screen credit.
QUANT: QUANT of def-n
10.
see also museum ~ , party ~ , set ~
11.
If you give someone a ~ of your mind, you tell them very clearly that you think they have behaved badly. (INFORMAL)
How very thoughtless. I’ll give him a ~ of my mind.
PHRASE: V inflects
12.
If something with several different parts is all of a ~, each part is consistent with the others. If one thing is of a ~ with another, it is consistent with it.
At its peak in the Thirties, Underground design and architecture was all of a ~...
PHRASE: v-link PHR, oft PHR with n
13.
If someone or something is still in one ~ after a dangerous journey or experience, they are safe and not damaged or hurt.
...providing that my brother gets back alive and in one ~ from his mission.
= intact
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v
14.
You use to ~s in expressions such as ‘smash to ~s’, and mainly in British English ‘fall to ~s’ or ‘take something to ~s’, when you are describing how something is broken or comes apart so that it is in separate ~s.
If the shell had hit the boat, it would have blown it to ~s...
Do you wear your old clothes until they fall to ~s?
PHRASE: PHR after v
15.
If you go to ~s, you are so upset or nervous that you lose control of yourself and cannot do what you should do. (INFORMAL)
She’s a strong woman, but she nearly went to ~s when Arnie died.
PHRASE: V inflects
16.
a ~ of the action: see action
bits and ~s: see bit
a ~ of cake: see cake
to pick up the ~s: see pick up