PORTION


Meaning of PORTION in English

I. ˈpōrshən, -ȯr-, -ōə-, -ȯ(ə)- noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin portion-, portio; akin to Latin part-, pars part

1. : an individual's part or share of something: as

a. : a share of an estate received by gift or inheritance

Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me — Lk 15: 12 (Authorized Version)

b. : dower 2a

c. : enough food to serve one person at one meal or enough of one kind for a helping

individual portions of meat were precisely weighed out in the restaurant kitchen

2. : the share of an individual or group in human fortune or destiny : lot , fate

the preacher had told him hell would be his portion — J.L.Lowes

3.

a. : a part of a whole

portions of this park are particularly well-adapted for picnic and camping purposes — American Guide Series: Maryland

b. : a limited amount or quantity

the major portion of our fears would be at an end — J.C.Fitzmaurice

4. : the weekly selection of the Pentateuch read in a synagogue — compare parashah

Synonyms: see fate , part

II. transitive verb

( portioned ; portioned ; portioning -sh(ə)niŋ ; portions )

Etymology: Middle English portionen, from Middle French portiouner, from Old French portion share, portion

1. : to divide into portions : distribute in shares

2. : to allot or give to as a portion : dower , endow

Synonyms: see apportion

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.