part
part
noun
OPAL W OPAL S
/pɑːt/
some
1 uncountable part of something some but not all of a thing
We spent part of the time in the museum.
Part of the building was destroyed in the fire.
Part of the problem is that more and more people live alone.
Voters are given only part of the story (= only some of the information).
Part of me feels sorry for him (= I feel a little sorry for him, but not very sorry).
We spent a good part of the day rehearsing.
Collocations
adjective
biggoodgreater…
verb + part
compriseconstitutefall into…
preposition
in partpart of
phrases
the parts of the bodyforeign partsprivate parts
piece
2 countable a section, piece or feature of something
part of something The mountains are covered with snow for a large part of the year.
The early part of her life was spent in Paris.
the latter part of the 19th century
Making mistakes is an integral part of the learning process.
We've done the difficult part of the job.
an important/essential part of the project
Wool production was a key part of the economy.
in parts The novel is good in parts.
The procedure can be divided into two parts.
The worst part was having to wait three hours in the rain.
member
3 uncountable part of something an element or member of something; a person or thing that helps to make up a whole or belongs in it
Snacks can be part of a healthy eating plan.
You need to be able to work as part of a team.
Under the Saxons, Westmorland formed part of the Kingdom of Northumberland.
Antibiotics have become part of our daily existence.
of body/plant
4 countable a separate piece or area of a human or animal body or of a plant
The cancer could spread to other parts of the body.
It may one day be possible to grow new body parts in the laboratory.
Different insects feed on different parts of the plant.
SEE ALSO private parts
of machine
5 countable a piece of a machine or structure
The factory manufactures aircraft parts.
car/machine/engine parts
the working parts of the machinery
Where can I get spare parts for my bike?
Collocations
adjective
replacement
spare
auto
verb + part
manufacture
assemble
part + noun
parts dealerparts maker
parts supplier
region/area
6 countable an area or a region of the world, a country, a town, etc.
The island is mostly flat, but there are some hilly parts.
part of something the northern part of town
different parts of the world/country
Which part of Japan do you come from?
Come and visit us if you're ever in our part of the world.
​7 parts plural (old-fashioned, informal) a region or an area
She's not from these parts.
He's just arrived back from foreign parts.
of book/series
8 countable (abbreviation pt) a section of a book, television series, etc., especially one that is published or broadcast separately
The documentary was screened in four parts.
Henry IV, Part II
The final part will be shown next Sunday evening.
for actor
9 countable a role played by an actor in a play, film, etc.; the words spoken by an actor in a particular role
She played the part of Juliet.
(figurative) He's always playing a part (= pretending to be something that he is not).
Have you learned your part yet?
part in something He got a small part in a West End play.
in a part She was very good in the part.
TOPICS Film and theatre B1
Collocations
adjective
bigbitsmall…
verb + part
acthaveplay…
preposition
in the partpart of
phrases
act the partdress the partlook the part…
involvement
10 ​countable, usually singular, uncountable the way in which somebody/something is involved in an action or situation
Luck played a big part in their success.
She plays an active part in local politics.
We all have a part to play in the fight against crime.
He had no part in the decision.
I want no part of this sordid business.
Collocations
adjective
bighugeleading…
verb + part
havedoplay…
preposition
part in
in music
11 ​countable music for a particular voice or instrument in a group singing or playing together
the clarinet part
The first two verses of the song are set in four-part harmony.
I can play the guitar part to that song.
equal portion
12 ​countable a unit of measurement that allows you to compare the different amounts of substances in something
Add three parts wine to one part water.
fluoride levels of 0.2 parts per million
in hair
13 (North American English) (British English parting) countable a line on a person’s head where the hair is divided with a comb
Idioms
be greater/more than the sum of its parts
the best/better part of something
discretion is the better part of valour
for the most part
for my, his, their, etc. part
in large part | in large measure
in part
look/dress the part
a man/woman of (many) parts
on the part of somebody/on somebody’s part
part and parcel of something
part of the furniture
take something in good part
take part (in something)
take somebody’s part
part
verb
/pɑːt/
leave somebody
1 ​intransitive (formal) if a person parts from another person, or two people part, they leave each other
We parted at the airport.
I hate to part on such bad terms.
part from somebody He has recently parted from his wife (= they have started to live apart).
SEE ALSO parting
TOPICS Family and relationships C2
keep apart
2 ​transitive, often passive part somebody (from somebody) (formal) to prevent somebody from being with somebody else
I hate being parted from the children.
The puppies were parted from their mother at birth.
I refused to be parted from my sisters.
move away
3 ​intransitive, transitive if two things or parts of things part or you part them, they move away from each other
The crowd parted in front of them.
The elevator doors parted and out stepped the President.
part something Her lips were slightly parted.
She parted the curtains a little and looked out.
hair
4 ​transitive part something to divide your hair into two sections with a comb, creating a line that goes from the back of your head to the front
He parts his hair in the middle.
SEE ALSO parting
TOPICS Appearance C2
Idioms
a fool and his money are soon parted
part company (with/from somebody)
Phrasal Verbs
part with
part
adverb
/pɑːt/
(often in compounds)
consisting of two things; to some extent but not completely
She's part French, part English.
His feelings were part anger, part relief.
The course is part funded by the European Commission.
He is part owner of a farm in France.
Word Origin
Old English (denoting a part of speech), from Latin pars, part-. The verb (originally in Middle English in the sense ‘divide into parts’) is from Old French partir, from Latin partire, partiri ‘divide, share’.