WordGarden.iosegment
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /sɛɡˈmɛnt/ambitransitiveverb
US
- /ˈsɛɡmənt/
Meanings
Noun
one of the distinct parts that make up something larger
a distinct part of a television, radio, or online program
a distinct group of customers, products, or the market treated as a category
More meaningsFewer meanings
the part of a line between two points
Verb
to divide something into smaller parts or categories
Beyond the definition
Imagine breaking a chocolate bar into pieces - each piece is a segment! A segment is simply one part of a larger whole. It can be a real part, like one section of an orange, or a named group, like a part of society. Think of it as cutting something into smaller parts so it is easier to study or handle. You might look at market segments to see who is buying what, or talk about one segment of a road that needs repair.
The word segment refers to a part or section of something larger, whether physical or abstract. It suggests a clear division into distinct, identifiable pieces. In geometry, it can mean a part of a line between two points, or a part of a circle cut off by a chord. Over time, its meaning has broadened and is now used in many different fields.
You'll often encounter "segment" when people divide things for study or discussion. Marketing professionals, for instance, talk about customer segments - groups of people who share similar traits or buying habits. In media, a news program might have a segment about local weather, or a political debate may be split into segments that focus on issues like the economy or healthcare.
But it is not just about breaking things down for study. A segment can also mean a clear part of something that continues over a distance or through time. For example, you might describe a certain piece of DNA as a segment, or a particular stretch of track as a rail segment.
The key idea is that a segment is a defined part within a larger whole, which makes it easier to focus on, study, or handle. It is about taking something larger and breaking it into smaller, clear parts - just like enjoying that chocolate bar one piece at a time!
Examples
- 1
News program
The news program ends with a short sports segment.
- 2
Documentary
We only watched the first segment of the documentary before class.
- 3
Road section
That segment of the road will be closed until Friday.
- 4
Customer group
Younger travelers are now an important segment of the market.
- Phrasesegment of the market
a group of customers with similar needs or interests
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Email list
The company segments its email list by age and location.
- Patternsegment something by + category
divide it into groups based on that category
- 6
Survey results
The survey results were segmented into three income groups.
- Patternsegment something into + groups
divide it into separate groups
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- segmentnounverb
Forms
- segmentspluralnounverb
- segmentedpast tenseverbnoun
- segmenting-ing formverbnoun