Compartment

/kəmˈpɑːrtmənt/

nounBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

A separate section or division of a container or space.

/kəmˈpɑːrtmənt/

nounneutralBeginner
General

A separate section or division

The car's trunk has several compartments.

💡 Simply: Imagine a box with smaller boxes inside. Each smaller box is a compartment, a separate space for things.

👶 For kids: It's like a little room inside a bigger room!

More Examples

2

Each drawer had its own compartment for different types of utensils.

How It's Used

Travel

"The train had comfortable compartments for passengers."

Storage

"The toolbox has separate compartments for different tools."

From Middle French compartiment, from comparti, past participle of comparir 'to divide, share'. Ultimately from Latin com- 'together' + partire 'to divide'.

The word has been used in a similar sense since the 16th century, referring to divided spaces in buildings and ships.

Memory tip

Think of 'part' within 'compartment' - it's a separate part.

compartmentalcompartmantcompartmentment

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written