I. part 1 S1 W1 /pɑːt $ pɑːrt/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ part , ↑ counterpart , ↑ parting , ↑ partition ; adverb : ↑ part , ↑ partially , ↑ partly ; adjective : ↑ partial , ↑ parting , ↑ part ; verb : ↑ part , ↑ partition ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin pars ]
1 . PIECE [countable] a piece or feature of something such as an object, area, event, or period of time
part of
The front part of the car was damaged.
In parts of Canada, French is the first language.
The cost of living is becoming unbearable for retired people in our part of the world (=where we live) .
More heat is lost through the head than any other part of the body.
the early/later/latter/last part
in the early part of the 19th century
the best/worst part
The best part of the holiday was the food.
the first/final/last part etc
You can see the final part of that series on Tuesday.
part two/three etc
I shall be explaining this further in Part Two.
the hard/easy part
Getting Dad to agree will be the hard part.
different parts/all parts of something
The jobs attracted people from all parts of the world.
integral/vital/important part
the traditions that are an integral part of Jewish life
in parts
The film is very violent in parts.
2 . MACHINE/OBJECT [countable] one of the separate pieces that something such as a machine or piece of equipment is made of:
Lay all the parts out before you start assembling the model.
engine parts
spare parts (=kept for when a part breaks, needs replacing etc)
3 . NOT ALL part of something some, but not all, of a particular thing:
Part of the money will be spent on a new playground.
Part of the castle was destroyed by fire.
For part of the day, you will be outside doing practical work.
part of me/him etc
Part of me hates him (=I partly hate him) .
(only) part of the story/problem/explanation etc
Poor working conditions are only part of the problem.
► Do not say ‘(the) most part of’. Say most of : We spent most of (NOT most part of) the morning shopping.
4 . INVOLVEMENT play a part if something or someone plays a part in something else, they are involved in it
play a part in
Health education will play a part in preparing us for old age.
Britain should play its full part in the negotiations.
play a big/important part in something
Pictures play an important part in publishing.
5 . have a part to play (in something) to have a particular job or be responsible for something:
The church used to have a more important part to play in the community.
6 . take part to be involved in an activity, sport, event etc with other people
take part in
About 400 students took part in the protest.
She wanted to take part but she was too ill.
take an active/leading part
At college I took an active part in student politics.
► Do not say ‘take a part in’ something. Say take part in something.
7 . take/have/play no part in something to not be involved in something:
She took no part in the fighting.
8 . want no part of something to not want to be involved in something:
There was a plan to change the production style, and he wanted no part of it.
9 . the best/better part of something nearly all of something:
We waited for the best part of an hour.
10 . a good/large part of something a lot or more than half of something:
A large part of the budget will be spent on advertising.
11 . the greater/major part of something most of something:
They controlled the greater part of North Africa.
12 . in part to some degree, but not completely SYN partly :
His reluctance to help could, in part, be explained by his poor eyesight.
13 . in large part/for the most part mostly, or in most places:
Success was due in large part to good teamwork.
For the most part he worked patiently.
14 . be (a) part of something to be included or involved in something:
Falling over is part of learning how to ski.
If you decide to work for our organisation, you will be part of a great team.
15 . form (a) part of something to be one of the things that make up something larger or more important:
Practical work forms an integral part of the course.
16 . HAIR [countable usually singular] American English a ↑ parting
17 . ACTING [countable] the words and actions of a particular character in a play or film SYN role :
Could someone take the part of Romeo, please?
Katharine’s playing the part of Mary in the school play.
18 . MUSIC [countable] the music that one type of instrument or voice within a group plays or sings:
The violin part is difficult.
The choir sings in four-part harmony.
19 . QUANTITY [countable] used to say how much of each substance there is or should be in a mixture:
Prepare the glue with one part powder to three parts water.
The sulphur dioxide level in the air was 32 parts per billion.
20 . look the part
a) to look like a typical person of a particular type:
In his smart suit, he certainly looked the part.
b) to perform well and seem likely to be successful – used in sports reports:
He’s beginning to look the part on the soccer field.
21 . dress the part to wear suitable clothes for something:
She’s got a new high-powered job, and she’s certainly dressing the part.
22 . sb’s part in something what a particular person did in an activity that was shared by several people, especially something bad:
He was imprisoned for six years for his part in the murder.
23 . in/round these parts in the particular area that you are in:
We don’t get many tourists in these parts.
24 . take sb’s part British English formal to support someone in a quarrel or argument SYN take sb’s side :
Dad always takes my brother’s part when we argue.
25 . for my/his part etc formal used when saying what a particular person thinks or does, as opposed to other people:
For my part, I prefer living in the country.
26 . on sb’s part/on the part of somebody used when describing a particular person’s feelings or actions:
It was probably just a mistake on her part.
There has never been any jealousy on my part.
27 . take something in good part old-fashioned to accept jokes or criticism about you without being upset
28 . be part and parcel of something to be a necessary feature of something:
Working irregular hours is all part and parcel of being a journalist.
29 . be/become part of the furniture to have been in a place for so long that people no longer notice you
30 . man/woman of many parts someone who is able to do many different things:
He was a man of many parts: writer, literary critic and historian.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + part
▪ the early part
The school dates from the early part of the nineteenth century.
▪ the first part
In the first part of the book he describes his childhood.
▪ the later part (=the part towards the end of a period of time )
in the later part of the twentieth century
▪ the latter part (=the second half rather than the first)
The festival lasts for ten days during the latter part of May.
▪ the last/final part
We had reached the last part of our journey.
▪ the best/worst part
The worst part was having to work even when it was raining.
▪ the hard/easy part
Deciding what you're going to cook is the easy part.
▪ an important part
Fresh fruit is an important part of our diet.
▪ a vital/essential part (=an extremely important and necessary part )
A ceasefire in the region is an essential part of any peace process.
▪ an integral part (=a necessary part of the whole thing)
These workshops are an integral part of the course.
▪ different parts of something
Public transport varied between different parts of the country.
▪ all parts of something ( also every part of something )
He had access to all parts of the factory.
▪ the component/constituent parts of something (=the separate parts that form it)
The body is a complex thing with many constituent parts.
▪ equal parts
I cut the orange into four equal parts.
■ phrases
▪ parts of the world
There are wars going on in many parts of the world.
▪ parts of the country
He sometimes went to visit friends in other parts of the country.
▪ parts of the body
The cancer may spread to other parts of the body.
▪ part one/two/three etc
The questionnaire is in two parts: part one asks for your personal details and part two asks for your comments on the course.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 17)
■ verbs
▪ play a part
She plays the part of an ageing beauty queen.
▪ have a part
He had a small part in ‘Casino Royale'.
▪ take a part (=agree to play a part that you have been offered)
When I was offered the part of the prince, I decided to take it.
▪ get a part
I was thrilled when I was told I’d got the part.
▪ give somebody a part
Why did they give Sinatra the part?
▪ land a part (=be given a part)
He landed a part in a cop show.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + part
▪ a big part
She felt the studio hadn’t given her enough big parts.
▪ a good part
Every time we do a play, the boys get all the good parts.
▪ a small part
Toby had a small part in the film.
▪ the lead/leading part (=the most important part)
Taking the lead part of Annie will be 11-year-old Zoe Jones.
▪ a speaking part (=one in which you have some words to say)
I had hoped to be given a speaking part.
▪ a walk-on part (=a small part in which you do not have any words to say)
She had had walk-on parts in a couple of soap operas.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ part something that together with other things forms a whole:
It looks like part of a car engine.
|
The best part of the movie was the end.
|
The hardest part is getting started.
▪ bit especially British English informal a small part of something:
Some bits of the book are really funny.
|
I didn’t read the bottom bit.
▪ piece one of several different parts that you join together to make something:
One of the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle was missing.
|
The furniture comes in several pieces.
▪ component a part of a machine or process:
The company supplies engine components for trucks.
|
Education is a major component in a child' s growth and development.
▪ section a part of something that is clearly different and separate from other parts:
The test is divided into two sections.
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the reference section of the library
|
the string section of the orchestra
▪ chapter one of the numbered parts that a book is divided into:
The opening chapter of the book sets the scene.
▪ scene one of the parts that a film or play is divided into:
Some scenes had to be cut because they were too violent.
|
act 1, scene 2 of the play
▪ episode a part of a story on the television or the radio, which is told in separate parts:
I missed last week’s episode.
II. part 2 BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ part , ↑ counterpart , ↑ parting , ↑ partition ; adverb : ↑ part , ↑ partially , ↑ partly ; adjective : ↑ partial , ↑ parting , ↑ part ; verb : ↑ part , ↑ partition ]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: partir , from Latin partire 'to divide' , from pars ; ⇨ ↑ part 1 ]
1 . [intransitive and transitive] written to move the two sides of something apart, or to move apart, making a space in the middle:
When he parted the curtains, the sunlight flooded into the room.
The crowd parted to let him through.
Ralph’s lips parted in a delighted smile.
2 . [intransitive] written to separate from someone, or end a relationship with them:
They parted on amicable terms.
part from
He has parted from his wife.
3 . be parted (from somebody) to be prevented from being with someone:
They were hardly ever parted in 30 years of marriage.
He hates being parted from the children.
4 . part company (with somebody)
a) to go in different directions after having gone in the same direction:
The two women parted company outside their rooms.
b) to end a relationship with someone:
George parted company with the band in 1996.
c) to disagree with someone about something:
He parted company with Lloyd George over post-war diplomacy.
5 . [transitive] if you part your hair, you comb some of your hair in one direction and the rest in the other direction
part with something phrasal verb
to give something to someone else, although you do not want to:
I’m reluctant to part with any of the kittens, but we need the money.
III. part 3 BrE AmE adverb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ part , ↑ counterpart , ↑ parting , ↑ partition ; adverb : ↑ part , ↑ partially , ↑ partly ; adjective : ↑ partial , ↑ parting , ↑ part ; verb : ↑ part , ↑ partition ]
1 . part something, part something if something is part one thing, part another, it consists of both of those things:
The exams are part written, part practical.
The room is part sitting room, part bedroom.
2 . not completely SYN partly :
The project is part funded by the council.
The object was part hidden by the grass.
IV. part 4 BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ part , ↑ counterpart , ↑ parting , ↑ partition ; adverb : ↑ part , ↑ partially , ↑ partly ; adjective : ↑ partial , ↑ parting , ↑ part ; verb : ↑ part , ↑ partition ]
1 . part payment payment of only a part of something, not all of it:
I gave them £10 in part payment.
2 . part owner someone who is one of the people who own something