WordGarden.iopart
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈɑːt/
US
- /ˈpɑrt/
Meanings
Noun
a piece, portion, or division of a whole
a role, share, or involvement in something
a component or replacement piece of a machine or device
More meaningsFewer meanings
an area, side, or region of a place
a role played by an actor in a film, show, or play
a grammatical category in the phrase part of speech
Verb
to separate or to go different ways
Beyond the definition
Everything is made of parts. A car has many parts—wheels, an engine, seats—that all work together. But "part" is not just about physical things. You can play a part in a school play, or be an important part of someone's life. It often shows how something or someone fits into a bigger whole.
The word "part" can also mean a section of something, like the first part of a book or only one part of a story. It is also used in common verb phrases. If you take part in something, you join in. If two people part, they go away from each other. So "part" can talk about pieces, roles, sections, joining in, and separating.
The word "part" is very flexible. Most often, it refers to a piece or section of something larger. A bicycle has many parts: handlebars, tires, pedals, and brakes. A book can have several parts. A memory can come back in parts. In all of these cases, the idea is the same: one smaller piece belongs to a bigger whole.
"Part" also often describes a role or a contribution. In a play, an actor has a part. In daily life, a person can play a part in a team's success, a family's story, or a major decision. In the phrase "take part," the word means to join in or participate. If you take part in a game, meeting, or event, you are involved in it.
As a verb, "part" can mean to separate or move apart. Two friends may part at a train station. Curtains can part and open. You can also part your hair on one side or in the middle, which means to divide it into two sides. In some contexts, "part with" means to give up or let go of something, often with difficulty.
"Part" can also point to less exact amounts and feelings. You might say that part of you wants to stay and part of you wants to leave. You may know only part of the truth or hear only part of a conversation. So the word can describe physical pieces, sections, roles, participation, separation, and even divided thoughts. It is a simple word, but it appears in many important parts of everyday English.
Examples
- 1
Conversation
I only heard part of the conversation.
- 2
Machine part
The mechanic had to order a new part for the engine.
- 3
Neighborhood
Which part of town do you live in?
- 4
Life importance
Music is an important part of her life.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Acting role
He got a small part in a television drama.
- 6
Participation
More than 200 students took part in the survey.
- Patterntake part in + activity
join it
- 7
Cause or influence
Stress may have played a part in his decision to leave.
- Patternplay a part in + result
help cause or influence it
- 8
Shared responsibility
Everyone needs to do their part to keep the kitchen clean.
- Phrasedo your part
do what you are responsible for
- 9
Mostly
For the most part, the trip went smoothly.
- Phrasefor the most part
mostly
- 10
Partial cause
The delay was caused in part by bad weather.
- Phrasein part
partly
- 11
Inner conflict
Part of me wants to stay, but part of me wants to try something new.
- Phrasepart of me
one feeling or wish inside me
- 12
Ending partnership
After ten years in business together, they decided to part ways.
- Phrasepart ways
separate or stop working together
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- partnounverbadjectiveadverb
Forms
- partspluralnounverbadverb
- partedpast tenseverbnounadverb
- parting-ing formverbnounadverb