I. part ‧ ner 1 S2 W2 AC /ˈpɑːtnə $ ˈpɑːrtnər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ partner , ↑ partnership ; verb : ↑ partner ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Anglo-French ; Origin: parcener 'heir sharing half' , from Old French parçon 'share' ; influenced by part ]
1 . MARRIAGE ETC one of two people who are married, or who live together and have a sexual relationship ⇨ husband , wife :
Discuss your worries with your partner.
Only 29% of lone parents receive financial support from their former partners.
a sexual partner
2 . BUSINESS one of the owners of a business:
She’s a partner in a law firm.
The senior partner has retired.
⇨ ↑ sleeping partner
3 . DANCING/GAMES ETC someone you do a particular activity with, for example dancing or playing a game against two other people:
Clare’s my tennis partner.
Take your partners for the next dance.
4 . COUNTRY/ORGANIZATION a country or organization that another country or organization has an agreement with:
Nigeria is our principal trading partner in Africa.
The group is a junior partner (=less important group) in the PLO’s governing coalition.
5 . partners in crime two people who have planned and done something together, especially something that slightly annoys other people – used humorously
⇨ ↑ sparring partner
II. partner 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ partner , ↑ partnership ; verb : ↑ partner ]
to be someone’s partner in a dance, game etc:
I used to partner him in tennis matches.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ husband/wife etc
▪ husband/wife the man/woman you are married to:
My wife’s a teacher.
▪ partner the person you live with and have a sexual relationship with. Partner is often used when people are not married, or when you do not know if they are married. It is also used when talking about same-sex couples:
He lives with his partner Ruth and their eight-month-old son.
▪ fiancé/fiancée the man/woman you are engaged to:
He and fiancée Wendy Hodgson will marry in July.
▪ divorcee a woman who is divorced:
The Prince announced his intention to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.
▪ widow/widower a woman or man whose husband or wife has died:
Imelda Marcos, the widow of the former President
▪ spouse formal your spouse is your husband or wife:
The rule applies to spouses and children of military personnel.
▪ estranged wife/husband formal someone’s estranged husband or wife is one who they do not live with anymore:
She is trying to get her sons back from her estranged husband.