part
Cross references: 1. separate 1. part \'pa:rt\ n [ME, fr. OF & OE, both fr. L part-, pars; akin to L parare to] prepare - more at PARE 1a1: one of the portions into which something is or is regarded as divided and which together constitute the whole 1a2: an essential portion or integral element 1b: one of several or many equal units of which something is composed 1c1: ALIQUOT 1c2: PARTIAL FRACTION pl 1d: the external genital and excretory organs 1e: a division of a literary work 1f1: a vocal or instrumental line or melody in concerted music or in harmon y 1f2: a particular voice or instrument in concerted music; also : th e score for it 1g: a constituent member of a machine or other apparatus; also : a spare part 2: something falling to one in a division or apportionment : SHARE 3: DUTY, FUNCTION 4: one of the opposing sides in a conflict or dispute 5: DISTRICT, REGION 6: a function or course of action performed 7a: an actor's lines in a play 7b: the role of a character in a play 8: a constituent of character or capacity : TALENT 9: the line where the hair is parted , SECTION, SEGMENT, FRAGMENT mean something less than the whole. PART is a general term interchangeable with any of the others; PORTION implies an assigned or allotted part; PIECE applies to a separate or detached part of a whole; MEMBER suggests one of the functional units composing a body; DIVISION and SECTION imply a part made by cutting, DIVISION usu. suggesting a larger or more diversified subordinate part than SECTION; SEGMENT applies to a part separated or marked out by natural lines of cleavage; FRAGMENT applies to a part produced accidentally as by breaking off or shattering SYN syn PART, PORTION, PIECE, MEMBER, DIVISION 2. part vb [ME parten, fr. OF partir, fr. L partire to divide, fr. pa]rt-, pars 1a: to separate from or take leave of someone 1b: to take leave of one another 2: to become separated into parts 3a: to go away : DEPART 3b: DIE 4: to become separated, detached, or broken 5: to relinquish possession or control 1a: to divide into parts 1b: to separate by combing on each side of a line 1c: to break or suffer the breaking of (as a rope or anchor chain) 2: to divide into shares and distribute : APPORTION 3a: SEPARATE, SUNDER 3b: to keep separate 3c: to hold apart 3d: to separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or secretion archaic 4a: LEAVE, QUIT dial Brit 4b: to give up : RELINQUISH 3. part av : PARTLY 4. part aj : PARTIAL
Webster's English Dictionary