Main Entry: ¹part·ner

Pronunciation: \ˈpärt-nər also ˈpärd-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English partener, alteration of parcener, from Anglo-French, coparcener — more at parcener

Date: 14th century

1 archaic : one that shares : partaker
2 a : one associated with another especially in an action : associate, colleague b : either of two persons who dance together c : one of two or more persons who play together in a game against an opposing side d : a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship : one member of a couple
3 : a member of a partnership especially in a business; also : such membership
4 : one of the heavy timbers that strengthen a ship's deck to support a mast —usually used in plural

— part·ner·less \-ləs\ adjective