I. par ‧ ti ‧ tion 1 /pɑːˈtɪʃ ə n $ pər-, pɑːr-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ part , ↑ counterpart , ↑ parting , ↑ partition ; adverb : ↑ part , ↑ partially , ↑ partly ; adjective : ↑ partial , ↑ parting , ↑ part ; verb : ↑ part , ↑ partition ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: French ; Origin: Latin partitio , from partire ; ⇨ ↑ part 2 ]
1 . [countable] a thin wall that separates one part of a room from another
2 . [uncountable] the action of separating a country into two or more independent countries
partition of
the partition of India
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THESAURUS
▪ wall an upright flat structure made of stone or brick, that divides one area from another or surrounds an area:
The estate is surrounded by high stone walls.
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a brick wall
▪ fence a structure made of wood, metal etc that surrounds a piece of land:
The garden was surrounded by an old wooden fence.
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the chain link fence around the school
▪ railings a metal fence that is made of a series of upright bars:
the iron railings in front of the house
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The boy was leaning over the railing on the side of the boat.
▪ barrier a type of fence or gate that prevents people from moving in a particular direction:
A guard stood near the barrier.
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The police had put up barriers to keep the crowd under control.
▪ screen a piece of furniture like a thin wall that can be moved around and is used to divide one part of a room from another:
the screen around his hospital bed
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a Japanese bamboo screen
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a fire screen (=that you put near a fire)
▪ partition a thin wall that separates one part of a room from another:
The room was divided into two by a thin partition.
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The offices are separated by partitions and you can hear everything that is said in the next office.
▪ barricade a line of objects that people have put across a road, to prevent people getting past, especially as part of a protest:
The soldiers used tanks to smash through the barricades.
II. partition 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive + into]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ part , ↑ counterpart , ↑ parting , ↑ partition ; adverb : ↑ part , ↑ partially , ↑ partly ; adjective : ↑ partial , ↑ parting , ↑ part ; verb : ↑ part , ↑ partition ]
to divide a country, building, or room into two or more parts
partition something ↔ off phrasal verb
to divide part of a room from the rest by using a partition:
They partitioned off part of the living room to make a study.