Part

/pɑːrt/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonQuantity
5 meanings4 idioms/phrases5 questions

Definitions

5 meanings
1

A portion, piece, or segment of something.

/pɑːrt/

nounneutralBeginner
Quantity

A piece or section of a whole.

She played a vital part in the project's success.

💡 Simply: Imagine you have a pizza. Each slice is a part of the whole pizza. It’s a piece of something bigger.

👶 For kids: A part is a piece of something, like one of the toys in a toy set.

More Examples

2

Each part of the car needs regular maintenance.

3

He ate his part of the pizza.

4

The play was divided into two parts.

How It's Used

General

"The recipe calls for several parts, each of which must be added in order."

Literature

"In the novel, each part of the story revealed more of the mystery."

2

A role or function that someone or something has in a situation, activity, or relationship.

/pɑːrt/

nounneutralBeginner
Role

A role or function.

He played the part of the hero.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're in a play, and you have a part. Your part is what you do and say in the play. It's the role you play!

👶 For kids: A part is what you are doing, like being the leader in a game.

More Examples

2

Each team member has a part to play in the project.

3

The engine is an essential part of the car.

4

She was an important part of the team.

How It's Used

Theater

"The actor played the part of the villain convincingly."

General

"Everyone has their part to play in solving the problem."

Tip:Think of an actor playing a part in a play.
3

A division or separation; a line that separates two things.

/pɑːrt/

nounneutralmedium
Division

A division or separation.

She wore her hair with a middle part.

💡 Simply: Think about how you part your hair to the side. The part is the line in your hair where it separates.

👶 For kids: A part is like the line in your hair when you brush it on the sides.

More Examples

2

The lawyer asked the witness to describe the exact part where the accident occurred.

3

The part in his hair was perfectly straight.

4

The wall had a part, separating the kitchen from the living room.

How It's Used

Cosmetology

"She styled her hair with a side part."

General

"They made a part in their relationship."

Tip:Picture a part in your hair - a visible line separating the hair.
4

To divide, separate, or cause to separate.

/pɑːrt/

verbneutralmedium
Action

To divide or separate.

They parted ways after a long relationship.

💡 Simply: Imagine you want to make two groups of things. You'd part them, which means you'd separate them.

👶 For kids: To part is to split things up, like when you make two piles of toys.

More Examples

2

The crowd parted to let the ambulance through.

3

She parted her hair down the middle.

4

The curtains parted to reveal the stage.

How It's Used

General

"They parted ways amicably."

Law

"The judge parted the two sides, ending the argument."

Tip:Imagine parting a crowd - creating a space by moving people aside.
5

To leave or go away.

/pɑːrt/

verbneutralAdvanced
Action

We parted from each other after many years.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're saying goodbye to a friend and you're both going different ways. You're parting.

👶 For kids: To part is to go away, like when you say 'goodbye' and leave.

More Examples

2

The ship was ready to part from the dock.

3

They sadly parted with their old home.

4

The traveler needed to part with his belongings.

How It's Used

General

"They parted from the group early."

Formal

"The ship parted from the harbor at dawn."

Tip:Picture two friends saying goodbye as they part.

Idioms & expressions

for the most part

Mainly; generally.

"For the most part, people enjoyed the party."

a part of

Being included or involved in something.

"She is a vital part of the project."

part with

To give up or let go of something that is valued or desirable.

"It was hard for him to part with his old car."

part and parcel

An essential or integral part.

"Risk is part and parcel of any investment."

From Old French *part*, from Latin *pars, partis* meaning 'a part, piece, share'. The word has existed in English since the 13th century.

The word 'part' has been used since the 13th century, originally referring to a division or piece.

Memory tip

Think of dividing a cake into parts – each slice is a part.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"a part, piece, share"

vital partmajor partimportant parta part oftake part

Common misspellings

patpertparrt

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written