section

/ˈsɛkʃən/

IPA guide

Other forms: sections; sectioned; sectioning

A section is a part or piece of something that fits together with the other pieces to make a whole. Like the arts section of a newspaper, or the rhythm section of the band that gets reviewed in it.

The root of section is the Latin word sect, which means "cut." Think dissect ("cut into pieces"), or bisect ("cut in two"). Insects are called insects because they're made up of sections — the head, the abdomen, and the thorax. It almost looks like they've been carved into three separate parts.

Definitions of section

noun
one of several parts or pieces that fit with others to constitute a whole object

“a section of a fishing rod”

“metal sections were used below ground”

synonyms: segment

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bend, curve
curved segment (of a road or river or railroad track etc.)

dado
the section of a pedestal between the base and the surbase

leaf
hinged or detachable flat section (as of a table or door)

length
a section of something that is long and narrow

straight, straightaway
a straight segment of a roadway or racecourse

subdivision, subsection
a section of a section; a part of a part; i.e., a part of something already divided

blind bend, blind curve
a curve or bend in the road that you cannot see around as you are driving

drop-leaf
a hinged leaf on a table that can be raised and supported by a bracket

elbow
a sharp bend in a road or river

hairpin bend
a U-shaped bend in a road

stretch
a straightaway section of a racetrack

type of:
part, portion
something less than the whole of a human artifact
noun
one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole

“the finance section of the company”

synonyms: division, part

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frame
one of the ten divisions into which bowling is divided

beginning
the first part or section of something

middle
an intermediate part or section

end
a final part or section

high point
the most enjoyable part of a given experience

component, constituent, element, factor, ingredient
an abstract part of something

chukka, chukker
(polo) one of six divisions into which a polo match is divided

frame, inning
(baseball) one of nine divisions of play during which each team has a turn at bat

game
(tennis) a division of play during which one player serves

bout, round, turn
(sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive

first period
the first division into which the play of a game is divided

second period
the second division into which the play of a game is divided

final period
the final division into which the play of a game is divided

half
one of two divisions into which some games or performances are divided: the two divisions are separated by an interval

period
(ice hockey) one of three divisions into which play is divided in hockey games

quarter
(football, professional basketball) one of four divisions into which some games are divided

over
(cricket) the division of play during which six balls are bowled at the batsman by one player from the other team from the same end of the pitch

be all and end all, be-all and end-all
the essential factor; the all-important element; the supreme aim

plot element
a component or element of the plot of a story

point
a geometric element that has position but no extension

top, top of the inning
the first half of an inning; while the visiting team is at bat

bottom, bottom of the inning
the second half of an inning; while the home team is at bat

first half
the first of two halves of play

last half, second half
the second of two halves of play

maiden, maiden over
(cricket) an over in which no runs are scored

counterpoint
an element, idea, or argument used to create a contrast

type of:
concept, conception, construct
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
noun
a distinct region or subdivision of a territorial or political area or community or group of people

“no section of the nation is more ardent than the South”

“there are three synagogues in the Jewish section”

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examples:
Forbidden City
a walled section of Beijing that encloses the palace that was formerly the residence of the emperor of China

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outskirts
outlying areas (as of a city or town)

locality, neck of the woods, neighborhood, neighbourhood, vicinity
a surrounding or nearby region

gold coast
a rich neighborhood noted for expensive homes and luxurious living; usually along a coastal area

'hood
(slang) a neighborhood

place
a general vicinity

proximity
the region close around a person or thing

scenery
the appearance of a place

type of:
area, country
a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
noun
a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)

“he always turns first to the business section”

“the history of this work is discussed in the next section”

synonyms: subdivision

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lead, lead-in, lede
the introductory section of a story

canto
a major division of a long poem

above
an earlier section of a written text

sports section
the section of a newspaper that reports on sports

article, clause
a separate section of a legal document (as a statute or contract or will)

book
a major division of a long written composition

chapter
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

episode
a brief section of a literary or dramatic work that forms part of a connected series

spot
a section of an entertainment that is assigned to a specific performer or performance

spot
a short section or illustration (as between radio or tv programs or in a magazine) that is often used for advertising

insert
a folded section placed between the leaves of another publication

introduction
the first section of a communication

narration
(rhetoric) the second section of an oration in which the facts are set forth

close, closing, conclusion, end, ending
the last section of a communication

passage
a section of text; particularly a section of medium length

mezuza, mezuzah
religious texts from Deuteronomy inscribed on parchment and rolled up in a case that is attached to the doorframe of many Jewish households in accordance with Jewish law

sura
one of the sections (or chapters) in the Koran

exposition
(music) the section of a movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes first occur

obbligato, obligato
a part of the score that must be performed without change or omission

recapitulation
(music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) in which musical themes that were introduced earlier are repeated

development
(music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes are developed and elaborated

verse
a group of lines that form one section of a song or poem

verse
one of short subdivisions of a chapter in the Bible

anticlimax, bathos
a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one

arbitration clause
a clause in a contract providing for arbitration of disputes arising under the contract

deductible
a clause in an insurance policy that relieves the insurer of responsibility to pay the initial loss up to a stated amount

double indemnity
a clause in an insurance policy that provides for double the face value of the policy in the case of accidental death

escalator, escalator clause
a clause in a contract that provides for an increase or a decrease in wages or prices or benefits etc. depending on certain conditions (as a change in the cost of living index)

joker
an inconspicuous clause in a document or bill that affects its meaning in a way that is not immediately apparent

reserve clause
a clause that used to be part of the contract with a professional athlete extending the contract for a year beyond its expiration

rider
a clause that is appended to a legislative bill

exordium
(rhetoric) the introductory section of an oration or discourse

opening
the initial part of the introduction

foreword, preface, prolusion
a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

preamble
a preliminary introduction to a statute or constitution (usually explaining its purpose)

prolegomenon
a preliminary discussion inserted at the beginning of a book or treatise

afterword, epilog, epilogue
a short section added at the end of a literary work

epilog, epilogue
a short speech (often in verse) addressed directly to the audience by an actor at the end of a play

peroration
(rhetoric) the concluding section of an oration

excerpt, excerption, extract, selection
a passage selected from a larger work

locus classicus
an authoritative and often-quoted passage

place
the passage that is being read

purple passage
a passage full of ornate and flowery language

transition
a passage that connects a topic to one that follows

Epistle
a book of the New Testament written in the form of a letter from an Apostle

prologue
an introduction to a play

coda, finale
the closing section of a musical composition

text
a passage from the Bible that is used as the subject of a sermon

prologue
an introductory section of a novel or other literary work

type of:
piece of writing, writing, written material
the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect)

music
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
noun
a segment of a citrus fruit

“he ate a section of the orange”

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type of:
segment
one of the parts into which something naturally divides
verb
divide into segments

synonyms: segment

segment
divide or split up

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types:
syllabicate, syllabify, syllabise, syllabize
divide into syllables

quarter
divide into quarters

type of:
divide, part, separate
come apart
noun
a specialized division of a large organization

“she got a job in the historical section of the Treasury”

synonyms: department

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academic department
a division of a school that is responsible for a given subject

business department
a division of a business firm

personnel, personnel department, personnel office, staff office
the department responsible for hiring and training and placing employees and for setting policies for personnel management

government department
a department of government

payroll, payroll department
the department that determines the amounts of wage or salary due to each employee

security, security department
a department responsible for the security of the institution's property and workers

ministry
a government department under the direction of a minister

anthropology department, department of anthropology
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in anthropology

art department
the academic department responsible for teaching art and art appreciation

biology department, department of biology
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in biology

chemistry department, department of chemistry
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in chemistry

department of computer science
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in computer science

department of economics, economics department
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in economics

English department, department of English
the academic department responsible for teaching English and American literature

department of history, history department
the academic department responsible for teaching history

department of linguistics, linguistics department
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in linguistics

department of mathematics, mathematics department
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in mathematics

department of philosophy, philosophy department
the academic department responsible for teaching philosophy

department of physics, physics department
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in physics

department of music, music department
the academic department responsible for teaching music and music appreciation

department of psychology, psychology department
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in psychology

department of sociology, sociology department
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in sociology

advertising department, advertising division
the division of a business that is responsible for advertising

editorial department
the department of a publishing business that edits material for publication

parts department
the division of a business (e.g. a service garage) that sells replacement parts

building department, plant department
the division of a business responsible for building and maintaining the physical plant

purchasing department
the division of a business that is responsible for purchases

sales department, sales division, sales force
the division of a business that is responsible for selling products or services

service department
the division of a business that provides customer services

treasury
the government department responsible for collecting and managing and spending public revenues

department of local government, local department
a permanent department created to perform the work of a local government

Special Branch
a government police department dealing with political security

State Department
a department of government in one of the 50 states

department of the federal government, federal department, federal office
a department of the federal government of the United States

admiralty
the department in charge of the navy (as in Great Britain)

type of:
division
an administrative unit in government or business
noun
a division of an orchestra containing all instruments of the same class

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brass, brass section
the section of a band or orchestra that plays brass instruments

string section, strings
the section of an orchestra that plays stringed instruments

percussion, percussion section, rhythm section
the section of a band or orchestra that plays percussion instruments

reed section
the section of a band or orchestra that plays reed instruments

violin section
the section of an orchestra that plays violins

trumpet section
the section of a band or orchestra that plays trumpets or cornets

clarinet section
the section of a band or orchestra that plays clarinets

type of:
musical group, musical organisation, musical organization
an organization of musicians who perform together
noun
a small team of policemen working as part of a police platoon

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type of:
squad, team
a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
noun
a small class of students who are part of a larger course but are taught separately

“a graduate student taught sections for the professor's lecture course”

synonyms: discussion section

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type of:
class, course, form, grade
a body of students who are taught together
noun
a small army unit usually having a special function

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type of:
army unit
a military unit that is part of an army
noun
(geometry) the area created by a plane cutting through a solid

synonyms: plane section

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types:
cross section
a section created by a plane cutting a solid perpendicular to its longest axis

profile
a vertical section of the Earth's crust showing the different horizons or layers

type of:
area, expanse, surface area
the extent of a 2-dimensional surface enclosed within a boundary
noun
a very thin slice (of tissue or mineral or other substance) for examination under a microscope

“sections from the left ventricle showed diseased tissue”

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type of:
slice
a thin flat piece cut off of some object
noun
the cutting of or into body tissues or organs (especially by a surgeon as part of an operation)

synonyms: incision, surgical incision

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gastromy
surgical incision into the stomach

perineotomy
surgical incision into the perineum

laparotomy
surgical incision into the abdominal wall; often done to examine abdominal organs

orchotomy
surgical incision into the testis to obtain material for analysis (as in cases of abnormally low sperm count)

sclerotomy
surgical incision of the sclerotic coat of the eye

nephrotomy
incision into a kidney (usually to remove a kidney stone)

thoracotomy
surgical incision into the chest walls opening up the pleural cavity

valvotomy, valvulotomy
incision into a stenosed cardiac valve to relieve the obstruction

phlebotomy, venesection
surgical incision into a vein; used to treat hemochromatosis

vasosection, vasotomy
surgical incision into or division of the vas deferens

episiotomy
surgical incision of the perineum to enlarge the vagina and so facilitate delivery during childbirth

laparoscopy
laparotomy performed with a laparoscope that makes a small incision to examine the abdominal cavity (especially the ovaries and Fallopian tubes)

type of:
cut, cutting
the act of penetrating or opening open with a sharp edge
noun
a land unit equal to 1 square mile

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type of:
square mile
an area of 640 acres

Pronunciation

/ˈsɛkʃən/

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