Word
sectional
Phoneticssec·tion·al, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛkʃənəɫ/
UK/sˈɛkʃənəl/
Definitions
01modular sofa
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. a large sofa made of several separate pieces that you can arrange in different ways.
n. an item of upholstered furniture, typically a sofa, consisting of multiple modular units that can be configured in various arrangements.
“We bought a large grey sectional so the whole family could sit together in the living room.”
“The interior designer recommended a L-shaped sectional to maximise seating capacity without obstructing the flow of traffic through the open-plan space.”
Usage
Commonly used as a standalone noun in North America; in British English, 'modular sofa' or 'corner sofa' is more frequent.
Synonyms
02music rehearsal
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Music
n. a practice session where only one group of instruments, like the violins or flutes, plays together.
n. a rehearsal involving only one section of an orchestra or band, such as the brass or woodwinds.
“The trumpet players stayed after school for a sectional to master the difficult middle part of the song.”
“The conductor scheduled separate sectionals for the strings and percussion to address specific rhythmic inconsistencies before the full dress rehearsal.”
03aviation map
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical
n. a detailed map that pilots use to navigate in the air.
n. a sectional aeronautical chart designed for visual navigation of slow to medium speed aircraft.
“The pilot checked the sectional to identify the radio towers along the flight path.”
“Before departure, the student pilot meticulously plotted the course on a current sectional, noting all restricted airspaces and navigational aids.”
Synonyms
04sports tournament
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports American English
n. a competition held at a local or regional level, usually before a national championship.
n. a tournament or athletic contest held at the section level, typically serving as a qualifying round for state or national championships.
“Our high school basketball team won the sectionals and moved on to the state finals.”
“The athletes faced intense pressure during the sectionals, as only the top three finishers in each event would advance to the regional meet.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural form when referring to the tournament event.
05divided into parts
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. made of several parts or relating to only one part of something.
adj. relating to a particular section or composed of distinct sections.
“The new library has a sectional design that allows for future expansion.”
“The researcher argued that sectional interests within the party were preventing a unified approach to the new economic policy.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The real danger now on the fight for political turf is that they go after sectional interests.” Word family
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/sectional