1 part
Pronounced:
/ˈpɑɚt/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural partsMeaning:
1 [count] a : one of the pieces, sections, qualities, etc., that make or form something ▪ The entire book is good, but the best part is the ending. ▪ I don't remember him saying that. I must have missed that part. —often + of ▪ This is the best part of the movie. ▪ He's from the western part of the state. ▪ The disease is increasingly common in this part of the world. ▪ the early/latter part of this century ▪ Music is an important/major/essential part of my life. It's very much a part of me. ▪ It's the part of the job he enjoys the least. ▪ a natural part of growing up ▪ A part of me wants to stay, but another part of me wants to go. ▪ That was not a part of our original agreement. ▪ She left out that part of the story. ▪ Some parts of your speech were excellent. = Your speech was excellent in parts. ▪ Babies spend a good part of [=a large amount of] the day sleeping. —see also beauty part, part of speech, principal parts b : one of the pieces that are put together to form a machine ▪ The mechanic had to order the part from the manufacturer. ▪ an auto parts warehouse ▪ The parts of a radio include the speaker, dials, and antenna. ▪ Do you have any spare/replacement parts for this model of car? ▪ the moving parts of the machine c : one of the pieces or areas of the body of a plant or animal ▪ parts of the human body ▪ My favorite part of the chicken is the drumstick. ▪ body parts ▪ a diagram labeling the different parts of the flower —see also private parts
2 [noncount] : some but not all of something —+ of ▪ We spent part of the day at the beach. ▪ The river forms part of the border between the two countries. ▪ The numbers tell only part of the story. ▪ Instead of being part of the solution, they became part of the problem. ▪ Sure it's messy, but that's part of the fun/appeal. ▪ Homelessness is part of a larger problem facing this country. ▪ The program is part of a larger effort to help the world's children.
3 : a person who is a member of a group or who is included in an activity —usually + of [noncount] ▪ Come join us and be part of a winning team. ▪ She wanted to be part of the action. [count] ▪ They considered her (to be) a part of the family. ▪ He was an important part of the team's win. [=he did a lot to help the team to win]
4 [count] : one of the sections into which a book, play, television show, etc., is divided ▪ Part one of the miniseries airs next Monday. ▪ The first and second parts of Goethe's Faust are divided into acts. ▪ Shakespeare's Henry VI, Parts I, II, and III
5 [count] : the character played by an actor in a play, movie, etc. ▪ He got/landed the part of Romeo in his high school play. ▪ They said she was wrong for the part because she was too tall. = They said she was too tall to play the part. ▪ He has a small/bit part in the movie. —often used figuratively ▪ In his cowboy hat and boots, he certainly looked the part. [=he looked like a cowboy] ▪ Now that he's rich he certainly acts the part. [=behaves like a rich person] ▪ If you want people at work to believe that you're a professional, you have to dress the part. ▪ I've played the part of (the) devoted wife and mother, and now I want to do something more with my life. ▪ He was playing the part of (the) gracious host.
6 [count] : an influence in producing a result or causing something —usually + in ▪ My father's part in my upbringing was minimal. [=my father was not very involved in my upbringing] ▪ She talked about television's part in modern elections. ▪ Did alcohol play a part in the car accident? = Did alcohol have a part in causing the accident? [=was alcohol involved in the accident?] ▪ Your family's finances play a big/major/significant part in determining how much financial aid you will receive for college. ▪ We all have a part to play in the future of this company. ▪ Parents have a big/important/significant part to play in the habits of their children. ▪ So far, she has had no part in planning the event. [=she has not been involved in planning the event] ▪ He stated that politics played no part in his decision. ▪ When her father became ill, she began to take an active part in running her family's farm. ▪ They took an active part in the antiwar movement. —see also take part (below)
7 [count] : the notes that are sung by a particular singer or played on a particular instrument in a piece of music that is written for more than one voice or instrument ▪ I'm usually a soprano, but I was told to sing the alto part for this song. ▪ The song's flute part is especially beautiful. ▪ singing in four-part harmony
8 parts [plural] somewhat old-fashioned : a general area with no exact limits or boundaries ▪ I can tell from your accent that you're not from around these parts. [=not from around here] ▪ Tornadoes are pretty rare in these parts. ▪ She graduated from high school and left for parts unknown. [=a place that isn't known]
9 [count] US : the line where a person's hair is separated and combed to opposite sides of the head ▪ a part down the middle of her head ▪ a side part ▪ He combs his hair back without a part. —called also (Brit) parting; —see picture at hair
10 [count] : an amount that is equal to another amount ▪ Mix one part sugar with two parts flour. ▪ The movie is one part action and one part comedy. = The movie is equal parts action and comedy.
2 [noncount] : some but not all of something —+ of ▪ We spent part of the day at the beach. ▪ The river forms part of the border between the two countries. ▪ The numbers tell only part of the story. ▪ Instead of being part of the solution, they became part of the problem. ▪ Sure it's messy, but that's part of the fun/appeal. ▪ Homelessness is part of a larger problem facing this country. ▪ The program is part of a larger effort to help the world's children.
3 : a person who is a member of a group or who is included in an activity —usually + of [noncount] ▪ Come join us and be part of a winning team. ▪ She wanted to be part of the action. [count] ▪ They considered her (to be) a part of the family. ▪ He was an important part of the team's win. [=he did a lot to help the team to win]
4 [count] : one of the sections into which a book, play, television show, etc., is divided ▪ Part one of the miniseries airs next Monday. ▪ The first and second parts of Goethe's Faust are divided into acts. ▪ Shakespeare's Henry VI, Parts I, II, and III
5 [count] : the character played by an actor in a play, movie, etc. ▪ He got/landed the part of Romeo in his high school play. ▪ They said she was wrong for the part because she was too tall. = They said she was too tall to play the part. ▪ He has a small/bit part in the movie. —often used figuratively ▪ In his cowboy hat and boots, he certainly looked the part. [=he looked like a cowboy] ▪ Now that he's rich he certainly acts the part. [=behaves like a rich person] ▪ If you want people at work to believe that you're a professional, you have to dress the part. ▪ I've played the part of (the) devoted wife and mother, and now I want to do something more with my life. ▪ He was playing the part of (the) gracious host.
6 [count] : an influence in producing a result or causing something —usually + in ▪ My father's part in my upbringing was minimal. [=my father was not very involved in my upbringing] ▪ She talked about television's part in modern elections. ▪ Did alcohol play a part in the car accident? = Did alcohol have a part in causing the accident? [=was alcohol involved in the accident?] ▪ Your family's finances play a big/major/significant part in determining how much financial aid you will receive for college. ▪ We all have a part to play in the future of this company. ▪ Parents have a big/important/significant part to play in the habits of their children. ▪ So far, she has had no part in planning the event. [=she has not been involved in planning the event] ▪ He stated that politics played no part in his decision. ▪ When her father became ill, she began to take an active part in running her family's farm. ▪ They took an active part in the antiwar movement. —see also take part (below)
7 [count] : the notes that are sung by a particular singer or played on a particular instrument in a piece of music that is written for more than one voice or instrument ▪ I'm usually a soprano, but I was told to sing the alto part for this song. ▪ The song's flute part is especially beautiful. ▪ singing in four-part harmony
8 parts [plural] somewhat old-fashioned : a general area with no exact limits or boundaries ▪ I can tell from your accent that you're not from around these parts. [=not from around here] ▪ Tornadoes are pretty rare in these parts. ▪ She graduated from high school and left for parts unknown. [=a place that isn't known]
9 [count] US : the line where a person's hair is separated and combed to opposite sides of the head ▪ a part down the middle of her head ▪ a side part ▪ He combs his hair back without a part. —called also (Brit) parting; —see picture at hair
10 [count] : an amount that is equal to another amount ▪ Mix one part sugar with two parts flour. ▪ The movie is one part action and one part comedy. = The movie is equal parts action and comedy.
do your part
: to do what you are responsible for doing or are able to do ▪ I've done my part, and now it's time for him to do his. ▪ Please do your part by donating what you can to the organization.
for someone's part
: in someone's opinion ▪ She doesn't trust him, but for my part [=as for me; in my opinion], I think he's a nice guy. ▪ For his part, the Senator believes that the proposal will benefit American companies.
for the most part —see 1most
in good/great/large part
: not entirely but mostly ▪ The success of our company depends, in good part, on the condition of the economy. ▪ I believe that their actions were motivated in great part [=largely] by a desire for revenge.
in no small part
: to a great degree : largely or mostly ▪ The team's success is due in no small part to the hard work of its players.
in part
: to some extent : partially or partly ▪ Thanks in part to her performance in that movie role, she became one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood. ▪ The project failed in part because of a lack of funds. ▪ The city's problems are due, at least in part, to its geographical location.
of parts
: having many talents or skills ▪ a man/woman of (many) parts
on someone's part or on the part of someone
: by or from someone ▪ It took a lot of hard work on everyone's part [=done by everyone] to finish the project on time. ▪ It was a good effort on the part of all the students. [=all the students made a good effort] ▪ There is a lot of sympathy for the accused woman on the part of the public. [=the public feels a lot of sympathy for her]
part and parcel of
: a basic and necessary part of (something) ▪ Stress was part and parcel of the job.
sum of its parts —see 1sum
take part
: to be involved in something : to participate in something ▪ The event was a great success, and I would like to thank everyone who took part. ▪ The entire family takes part in cleaning the house. ▪ They refused to take part in the discussion. ▪ He swore that he took no part [=was not involved] in the group's illegal activities. —see also 1part 6 (above)
take someone's part
chiefly Brit : to show support for someone in an argument, disagreement, etc. ▪ The public has taken the accused woman's part [=taken her side, sided with her] because of her young age.
take something in good part
Brit old-fashioned : to not become too angry or upset about something : to not object too much to something ▪ I was nervous when I had to tell him that he was wrong, but fortunately he took it in good part and we stayed friends.
the best/better/greater part of something
: more than half of something : most of something ▪ It took us the better part of a week to finish the job. ▪ We've been waiting for the better part of an hour. ▪ They live here for the greater part of the year.
want no part of/in something
: to refuse to be involved in something ▪ She said that she didn't agree with what they were doing and wanted no part of it. ▪ I want no part of this scheme. ▪ He wanted no part in discussing the issue.