ENGLISH
REFERENCE

partner

n. · v.
US //ˈpɑɹtnɝ// UK //pˈɑːtnɐ// part·ner
  1. 1 romantic relationship (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the person you are in a long-term relationship or marriage with.

    a person with whom one is in a committed romantic or domestic relationship. Often used as a gender-neutral alternative to 'husband', 'wife', 'boyfriend', or 'girlfriend'.

    Example

    My partner and I have lived in this apartment for five years.

    Example

    The invitation was extended to each employee and their partner, ensuring that domestic companions were included in the formal gala.
  2. 2 business/work (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    someone you own a business with or work closely with on a project.

    an associate in a professional venture or ownership structure, especially in law, accounting, or medicine.

    Example

    She became a senior partner at the law firm after ten years of hard work.

    Example

    The two tech companies acted as strategic partners to develop the new software, sharing both the development costs and the eventual profits.
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  1. 3 sports/dancing (n.)
    A2 Elementary Sport

    the person you play with on the same team or dance with.

    one of two people who dance together or play together on a side in a game.

    Example

    You need to find a partner for the next dance.

    Example

    In professional ballroom competitions, the rapport between partners is judged as strictly as their individual technical execution.
  2. 4 to pair up (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to join with another person or group to do something together.

    to associate as partners; to join with another person or entity for a specific collaborative purpose.

    Example

    The school partnered with a local library to encourage children to read more.

    Example

    The non-profit organisation partnered with several private donors to ensure the community centre remained operational during the winter months.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'with'.
  3. 5 ship framework (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a piece of wood used to strengthen the deck of a ship around a mast.

    a framework of timber fitted around a hole in a ship's deck to support a mast, capstan, or pump.

    Example

    The carpenter repaired the partners to make sure the mast was secure.

    Example

    Heavy seas had strained the deck, necessitating a full inspection of the partners where the mainmast passed through to the lower hold.

Origin

From Middle English partener, partiner, alteration (due to Middle English part) of Middle English parcener, from Old French parçonier, parçonneour (“joint heir”) from parçon (“partition”), from Latin partītiōnem, singular accusative of partītiō (“portion”). The word may also represent Old French part tenour (“part holder”). Compare also Middle English partifere (“partner”), partifelewe (“partner”). Doublet of parcener.

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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