segment

¹seg·ment

noun \ˈseg-mənt\

Definition of SEGMENT

1

: a portion cut off from a geometric figure by one or more points, lines, or planes: as a : the area of a circle bounded by a chord and an arc of that circle b : the part of a sphere cut off by a plane or included between two parallel planes c : the finite part of a line between two points in the line

2

a : a separate piece of something : bit, fragment <chop the stalks into short segments> b : one of the constituent parts into which a body, entity, or quantity is divided or marked off by or as if by natural boundaries <all segments of the population agree>

— seg·men·tary \-mən-ˌter-ē\ adjective

Examples of SEGMENT

1. The railroad track is divided into segments.
2. <I think I lost one segment of this model kit.>

Origin of SEGMENT

Latin segmentum, from secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use: 1570

Related to SEGMENT

Synonyms: member, partition, portion, section, part

Related Words: component, constituent, element, factor, ingredient, moiety, parcel; cut, length; bit, fragment, particle, scrap

Near Antonyms: whole; aggregate, composite, compound, sum, total, totality

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See Synonym Discussion at part