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

See Synonym Discussion at part

²seg·ment

transitive verb \ˈseg-ˌment\

Definition of SEGMENT

: to separate into segments : give off as segments

Examples of SEGMENT

1. Market researchers have segmented the population into different age groups.

First Known Use of SEGMENT

1859

Rhymes with SEGMENT

absent, accent, Advent, anent, ascent, assent, augment, besprent, cement, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, intent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, portent, present, prevent, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent