Partition Meaning
/pɑːˈtɪ.ʃən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another.
nounA part of something that has been divided.
Sentence Examples
The bullet penetrated the partition.
This partition separates the two rooms.
There were Jews in Arab countries before the partition of Palestine.
CEFR Practice Quiz
They installed a ____ to separate the living room from the dining area.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The office was divided by a glass ____ that allowed natural light to flow through while maintaining privacy.
Word Origin & History
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)”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"And good from bad find no partition."
— c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
"At the partition of Ireland in 1920, the railway mileage of the whole country stood at its maximum figure of 3,442, of which 2,668 miles were in the South, and 754 in the much smaller North."
— 1958 May 26, “Decline in Irish Railway Mileage”, in Railway Magazine, page 295:
"No sight could pass / Betwixt the nice partitions of the grass."
— 1700, [John] Dryden, “The Flower and the Leaf: Or, The Lady in the Arbour. A Vision.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"Lodged in a small partition."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"The epicenter of the disturbance is the partition currently housing a [personality construct array] retrieved from Contender AI 05-032 <+> 0816."
— 2007 September 25, Bungie, Halo 3, Microsoft Game Studios, Xbox 360, level/area: Terminal Three (Legendary):
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
They installed a ____ to separate the living room from the dining area.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The office was divided by a glass ____ that allowed natural light to flow through while maintaining privacy.