part

1 noun

1 PIECE OF (C, U) a piece of something such as an object, area, event, or period of time

(+ of): The front part of the car was badly damaged. | In parts of Canada, French is the first language. | What part of America do you come from? | I only saw the first part of the programme. | be (a) part of: Falling over is part of learning how to ski. | late/early part: She spent the early part of her life in Belfast. | best/worst part: The best part of the holiday was the trip to the Islands. | hard/easy part: Getting dad to agree will be the hard part.

2 MACHINE/OBJECT (C) one of the separate pieces that something such as a machine, object etc is made of: I've glued it back together, but this part won't fit properly. | They send you the parts and you build it yourself. | spare part (=kept for when a part breaks, needs replacing etc)

3 NOT ALL (C, U) some but not all of a particular thing or group of things

(+ of): Part of the castle was destroyed in the fire. | in parts: The film is very violent in parts. | (only) part of the story/problem/explanation etc: Poor working conditions are only part of the problem.

4 play a part

a) if something plays a part in something, it is one of the several causes that make it happen or be successful

(+ in): This innovation has played a part in the company's success. | play a big/important part in: Besides dieting, exercising plays an important part in losing weight.

b) to perform the actions, words etc of a particular character in a play, film etc: play the part of: Kenneth Brannagh played the part of Henry V.

c) to be involved in something: Britain should play its full part in these negotiations.

5 take part to be involved in an activity, sport, event etc together with other people

(+ in): About 400 students took part in the protest. | She wanted to take part but she was too ill. | take an active/leading part: At college I took an active part in student politics.

6 the best/better part of nearly all of something: We waited for the best part of an hour.

7 a good/large part of a lot or more than half of something: A large part of the budget will be spent on advertising.

8 in large part/for the most part mostly, to a great extent, or in most places: The team, for the most part, was confident of success. | The money was in large part raised by sponsorship.

9 form part of/form a part of to be one of the things that together make up something larger or more important: Practical work forms an integral part of the course.

10 HAIR AmE a parting

11 ACTING (C) the words and actions of a particular character in a play, film etc, performed by an actor: I have to learn the part of Romeo by Tuesday.

12 part of the body a particular piece or area of a body: More heat is lost through the head than through any other part of the body.

—see also: private parts

13 BOOK (C) the different parts of something written such as a book, sometimes used as a title: first/last part: Please turn to the first part of the report. | Part One/Three/Six etc: The first chapter of Part Two begins at the funeral.

14 MUSIC (C) a tune that a particular type of instrument or voice within a group plays or sings: The tenor part carried the melody.

15 take/have/play/want no part in not be involved in something, because you do not agree with or approve of it: I played no part in leaking the information to the press.

16 YOUR PART IN what you yourself did, in an activity that was shared by several people, especially something bad: They were sentenced for their part in a -14 million fraud.

17 in/round these parts in the particular area, part of a country etc that you are in: We don't get many tourists in these parts.

18 part of me/him etc used when you have many different feelings or thoughts about something, so it is difficult to decide what you feel or what you should do: Part of me just wants to leave, but I know I will be unhappy if I do.

19 take sb's part to support someone when they are being criticized or attacked: The school took the teacher's part and told Jamie to leave.

20 QUANTITY (C) a particular quantity of a substance used when measuring different substances together into a mixture: Prepare the glue with one part powder to three parts water.

21 for the part of/for his part etc used to say what someone's opinions are, when compared to someone else's opinions: For my part I prefer living in the country.

22 on sb's part/on the part of sb used to say that someone has done something or feels something: It was probably just a mistake on her part. | There has never been any jealousy on my part.

23 in part to some degree, but not completely: The accident was due in part to my own carelessness.

24 take sth in good part old-fashioned to be able to laugh at a joke, which is about you or affects you

25 be part and parcel of included in something else or connected with it: Working irregular hours is all part and parcel of being a journalist.

2 verb

1 (T) to pull the two sides of something apart, making a space in the middle: The sunlight flooded the room when he parted the curtains. | parted lips (=your mouth open): Ralph's lips parted into a delighted smile.

2 (I) to separate from someone, or end a relationship with them: They parted on amicable terms. | I hope we will never part. | be parted: They were hardly ever parted in thirty years of marriage.

3 part company

a) to separate from someone, or end a relationship with them: The two women parted company outside their rooms.

b) to no longer agree with or think the same as someone else: He parted company with Lloyd George over post-war diplomacy.

4 (T) if you part your hair you separate it into two parts with a comb so that it looks tidy

part with sth phrasal verb (T) to unwillingly give something to someone else or stop having it yourself: I'm reluctant to part with any of the kittens, but we need the money. 3 adverb part sth, part sth if something is part one thing, part another, it consists of both of those things: The medical exams are part written, part practical. | The room is really part sitting room, part bedroom. 4 adjective part owner/payment etc only owning, paying etc a bit of something, not all of it: I gave them -10 in part payment.