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part

n. C / U
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈpɑɹt// UK //pˈɑːt// part Archaic General-service Humorous Informal

n. a piece of something bigger. You use this when you talk about one section of an object, a group, or a story.

n. a portion or section of a whole that is separate from or distinct from other sections. Often used to describe components of a physical object or segments of a conceptual entity.


SIMPLE

I only read the first part of the book.

CONTEXTUAL

The mechanic ordered a new part for the engine because the old one was broken.

COMPLEX

While the opening part of the symphony is quite slow, the final movement features a rapid tempo that challenges even the most experienced musicians.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English part, from Old English part (“part”) and Old French part (“part”); both from Latin partem, accusative of pars (“piece, portion, share, side, party, faction, role, character, lot, fate, task, lesson, part, member”), from Proto-Indo-European par-, per- (“to sell, exchange”). Akin to Latin portiō (“a portion, part”), parāre (“to make ready, prepare”). Displaced Middle English del, dele (“part”) (from Old English dǣl (“part, distribution”) > Modern English deal (“portion; amount”)), Middle English dale, dole (“part, portion”) (from Old English dāl (“portion”) > Modern English dole), Middle English sliver (“part, portion”) (from Middle English sliven (“to cut, cleave”), from Old English (tō)slifan (“to split”)).

Etymology 2

From Middle English parten, from Old French partir.

Etymology 3

From Middle English part, from the noun.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' to indicate the whole ('part of the team'). When used without an article in phrases like 'part of', it functions as a quantifier.

Idioms9 entries

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