What does "partition" mean?
An action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another.
Partition
/pɑɹˈtɪ.ʃən/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another.
- Grammar: partition is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: divider, division, segmentation, abstraction.
- Useful contrasts: combine, join, meld.
- Usage evidence: The bullet penetrated the partition.
How to use "partition"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "partition" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "partition" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "partition" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "partition" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "partition" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "divider" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "partition", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another. countable, uncountable
"the partitions of Poland"
- 2 the act of dividing or partitioning; separation by the creation of a boundary that divides or keeps apart wordnet
- 3 A part of something that has been divided. countable, uncountable
"the Russian Partition"
- 4 a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another) wordnet
- 5 An approach to division in which one asks what the size of each part is, rather than (as in quotition) how many parts there are. countable, uncountable
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 (anatomy) a structure that separates areas in an organism wordnet
- 7 The division of a territory into two or more autonomous ones. countable, uncountable
"Monarchies where partition isn't prohibited risk weakening through parcellation and civil wars between the heirs."
- 8 (computer science) the part of a hard disk that is dedicated to a particular operating system or application and accessed as a single unit wordnet
- 9 A vertical structure that divides a room. countable, uncountable
"a brick partition; lath and plaster partitions"
- 10 That which divides or separates; that by which different things, or distinct parts of the same thing, are separated; boundary; dividing line or space. countable, uncountable
"No sight could pass / Betwixt the nice partitions of the grass."
- 11 A part divided off by walls; an apartment; a compartment. countable, uncountable
"Lodged in a small partition."
- 12 The severance of common or undivided interests, particularly in real estate. It may be effected by consent of parties, or by compulsion of law. countable, uncountable
- 13 A section of a hard disk separately formatted. countable, uncountable
"The epicenter of the disturbance is the partition currently housing a [personality construct array] retrieved from Contender AI 05-032 <+> 0816."
- 14 A division of a database or one of its constituting elements such as tables into separate independent parts. countable, uncountable
- 15 A division of a data stream, such as a messaging queue or topic (often representing a unit of parallelism, and of fault tolerance). countable, uncountable
- 16 A collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set whose union is the set itself (i.e. all elements of the set are contained in exactly one of the subsets). countable, uncountable
- 17 A musical score. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To divide something into parts, sections or shares. transitive
"to partition a hard drive"
- 2 separate or apportion into sections wordnet
- 3 To divide a region or country into two or more territories with separate political status. transitive
"Poland was progressively partitioned by Russia, Austria, and Prussia in the late 18th century."
- 4 divide into parts, pieces, or sections wordnet
- 5 To separate or divide a room by a partition (ex. a wall), often use with off. transitive
Example
"The bullet penetrated the partition."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "partition"?
Common synonyms include: divider, division, segmentation, abstraction, alienation, aliquoting.
How do you use "partition" in a sentence?
The bullet penetrated the partition.
How do you pronounce "partition"?
Pronounced /pɑɹˈtɪ.ʃən/.
Etymology
Recorded c.1430, "division into shares, distinction," from Middle English particioun, from Old French particion (modern partition), from Latin partitio, partitionem (“division, portion”), from partitus, the past participle of partire (“to split (up), part(ition)”).