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n. 1. A portion, division, piece, or segment of a whole. 2. Any of several equal portions or fractions that can constitute a whole or into which a whole can be divided: a mixture of two parts flour to one part sugar. 3. A division of a book or artistic work such as a film: a novel in three parts. 4. a. An organ, member, or other division of an organism: A tail is not a part of a guinea pig. b. parts The external genitals. 5. A component that can be separated from or attached to a system; a detachable piece: spare parts for cars. 6. often parts A region, area, land, or territory: "Minding your own business is second nature in these parts" (Boston). 7. a. A role: He has the main part in the play. b. One's responsibility, duty, or obligation; share: We each do our part to keep the house clean. c. parts Abilities or talents: a person of many parts. 8. Music a. The music or score for a particular instrument, as in an orchestra. b. One of the melodic divisions or voices of a contrapuntal composition. 9. The line where the hair on the head is parted. v. part·ed, part·ing, parts v.tr. 1. a. To cause to move apart; put apart: parted the curtains. b. To divide into two or more parts; split: The ship's prow parted the waves. 2. To break up the relationship or association of: A dispute over ownership parted the founders of the business. See Synonyms at separate. 3. To comb (hair, for example) away from a dividing line, as on the scalp. 4. To go away from; depart from: He parted this life for a better one. 5. Archaic To divide into shares or portions. v.intr. 1. a. To be divided or separated: The curtain parted in the middle. b. To move apart: Her lips parted, and she spoke. 2. a. To leave one another; take leave: They parted as friends. b. To go away from another; depart: She parted from him at college graduation. c. Archaic To die. 3. To separate or divide into ways going in different directions: The road parts about halfway into the forest. 4. To disagree or stop associating because of a disagreement: The committee parted over the issue of pay raises for employees. adv. Partially; in part: part yellow, part green. adj. Phrasal Verb: Not full or complete; partial: a part owner of the business. part with Idioms: 1. To give up or let go of; relinquish: I would not part with that book. 2. To go away from (another): You should not part with him in anger. for (one's) part So far as one is concerned. for the most part To the greater extent; generally or mostly. in good part Good-naturedly or with good grace; without taking offense: take a joke in good part. in part To some extent; partly. on the part of Regarding or with respect to (the one specified): Brilliant strategy on the part of Confederate forces ensured their victory at Chancellorsville. part and parcel A basic or essential part: Working overtime is part and parcel of my job. part company/ways 1. To leave one another's presence; go away or separate. 2. To disagree or stop associating because of a disagreement. take part To join in; participate: She took part in the celebration. take (someone's) part To side with in a disagreement; support. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin pars, part-; see perə-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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