■ noun
1》 a separate section of a structure or container.
↘a division of a railway carriage marked by partitions.
2》 Heraldry a grassy mound or other support depicted below a shield.
■ verb divide into ~s.
Derivatives
~al adjective
~ally adverb
~ation noun
Origin
C16: from Fr. compartiment , based on late L. compartiri 'divide'.