1 [count] a : one of the parts that form something
▪ the upper section of the bridge ▪ This section of the road is closed.
b : a particular area that is part of a larger place
▪ the frozen food section in the supermarket ▪ the library's reference section ▪ the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn ▪ Do you want to sit in the nonsmoking section?
c : a part of a newspaper, play, book, etc.
▪ Can I see the sports section (of the newspaper)? ▪ The dictionary includes a section on signs and symbols. ▪ Section 1123 of the bankruptcy code
d : a part of a group of people
▪ ads that target one section of the population ▪ He had his own cheering section in the stands. [=his own group of people who were cheering for him] 2 [count] : one of several parts made so that something can be put together easily
▪ The siding comes in five-foot sections. 3 [count] : a part of a band or orchestra that has instruments of a particular kind
▪ the brass section ▪ the rhythm section 4 [count] US : one of the parts of an orange, grapefruit, or similar fruit that can be easily separated from each other
▪ a section of grapefruit — see color picture 5 [count] medical : a layer cut from a part of the body
▪ He examined tissue sections of the brain under a microscope. — see also cesarean section 6 a [noncount] : a diagram showing how something would look if it was cut from the top to the bottom : cross section
▪ a drawing of a ship in section
b [count] mathematics : a shape that is made when a line cuts through a solid figure
▪ a conical section 7 [count] US : a piece of land that is one mile wide and one mile long