n.
Pronunciation: ' pärt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Old English, both from Latin part-, pars; perhaps akin to Latin parare to prepare ― more at PARE
Date: before 12th century
1 a (1) : one of the often indefinite or unequal subdivisions into which something is or is regarded as divided and which together constitute the whole (2) : an essential portion or integral element b : one of several or many equal units of which something is composed or into which it is divisible : an amount equal to another amount <mix one part of the powder with three part s of water> c (1) : an exact divisor of a quantity : ALIQUOT (2) : PARTIAL FRACTION d : one of the constituent elements of a plant or animal body: as (1) : ORGAN , MEMBER (2) plural : PRIVATE PARTS e : a division of a literary work f (1) : a vocal or instrumental line or melody in concerted music or in harmony (2) : a particular voice or instrument in concerted music also : the score for it g : a constituent member of a machine or other apparatus also : a spare part
2 : something falling to one in a division or apportionment : SHARE <wanted no part of the proposal>
3 : one's share or allotted task (as in an action) : DUTY <one must do one's part >
4 : one of the opposing sides in a conflict or dispute
5 : a general area of indefinite boundaries ― usually used in plural <you're not from around these part s > <took off for part s unknown>
6 : a function or course of action performed
7 a : an actor's lines in a play b : the role of a character in a play
8 : a constituent of character or capacity : TALENT <a man of many part s >
9 : the line where the hair is parted
– for one's part : as far as one's share or interest is concerned < for my part , I do not see that the difference is important ― Mary McCarthy>
– for the most part : in general : on the whole < for the most part the crowd was orderly>
– in part : in some degree : PARTIALLY
– on one's part or on the part of one : with regard to the one specified
synonyms PART , PORTION , PIECE , MEMBER , DIVISION , SECTION , SEGMENT , FRAGMENT mean something less than the whole. PART is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required <they ran only part of the way>. PORTION implies an assigned or allotted part <cut the pie into six portions >. PIECE applies to a separate or detached part of a whole <a puzzle with 500 pieces >. MEMBER suggests one of the functional units composing a body <a structural member >. DIVISION applies to a large or diversified part <the manufacturing division of the company>. SECTION applies to a relatively small or uniform part <the entertainment section of the newspaper>. SEGMENT applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage <the retired segment of the population>. FRAGMENT applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off <only a fragment of the play still exists>.