compartment

noun com·part·ment \ kəm-ˈpärt-mənt \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: compartment in a Sentence

Definition of compartment

1 : a separate division or section

2 : one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided

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compartmental

play \kəm-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tᵊl, ˌkäm-\ adjective

See compartment defined for English-language learners

See compartment defined for kids

Examples of compartment in a Sentence

The suitcase has a zippered compartment for personal items.
The refrigerator has a separate compartment for meats.

Recent Examples of compartment from the Web

The 1993 Chevy step van has notched 170,000 miles, and the vehicle includes a flat-top grill, refrigerators, water tanks, a water heater, three-compartment sink and generator.

— sarah meehan, baltimoresun.com, "Mindgrub Cafe food truck on the market," 7 May 2018
Food vendors must provide their own self-contained, three-compartment sink, netting around the food prep area, and must comply with all current San Diego County Health Department standards.

— emily sorensen, Pomerado News, "Poway Spring Family Festival seeking sponsors, vendors," 11 Apr. 2018
Meanwhile, police discovered a loaded handgun in the engine compartment of his car, Ferrelli said.

— hannah leone, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora man who killed girlfriend now charged with attempted murder," 16 Jan. 2018
Agents discovered $51,040 cash, which was the proceeds of a two-kilogram cocaine delivery, concealed in a hidden compartment of the truck's tailgate, according to prosecutors.

— john d. harden, Houston Chronicle, "Baytown man pleads guilty to federal drug, money laundering violations," 12 June 2018
Female members of the French resistance would load forbidden radios and weapons into the secret compartment of a baby carriage, like one showcased in the collection, risking their lives walking past Nazi occupiers.

— sarah betancourt, The Christian Science Monitor, "From paranurses to snipers: Exhibit focuses on women's WWII contributions," 25 May 2018
Female members of the French resistance would load forbidden radios and weapons into the secret compartment of a baby carriage, like one showcased in the collection, risking their lives walking past Nazi occupiers.

— Washington Post, "From snipers to moms: World War II exhibit focuses on women," 25 May 2018
The haul included 100 pounds of methamphetamine in a secret compartment of a hopper car on a train at the Calexico railyard, according to a new release issued Tuesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.

— teri figueroa, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Weekend border busts yield $4.7M in drugs, nine arrests," 22 May 2018
The center also advises placing strong tape on the battery compartment of devices to keep them from falling out and to make sure children can’t easily open them.

— jason duaine hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Toddler Relearns to Talk and Eat After Swallowing Toy Battery: It's 'Super Dangerous,' Warns Mom," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compartment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of compartment

Middle French compartiment, from Italian compartimento, from compartire to mark out in parts, from Late Latin compartiri to share out, from Latin com- + partiri to share, from part-, pars part, share

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1578

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

compartment Synonyms

Synonyms

bay, cabin, cell, chamber, cube, cubicle;

Related Words

cubbyhole, pigeonhole;

alcove, niche, nook, recess;

cabinet, drawer, locker;

cavity, hole, hollow;

booth, box, crib, loge, stall;

bunker, crypt, vault;

compartment

verb com·part·ment \ kəm-ˈpärt-ˌment , -mənt \

Definition of compartment

compartmented; compartmenting; compartments

transitive verb

: compartmentalize

Examples of compartment in a Sentence

compartment the responses according to country of origin

Recent Examples of compartment from the Web

Sharing highly compartmented, classified information with Russians is a theatrical distraction from the greater good of polluting streams, enabling predatory financial practices, cutting taxes, and taking people’s health care away.

— brian beutler, New Republic, "“No Drama” McConnell is turning the cynical subtext of the GOP’s devil’s bargain with Trump into text.," 16 May 2017

First Known Use of compartment

1918

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

compartment Synonyms

Synonyms

assort, break down, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartmentalize, digest, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, type;

Near Antonyms

confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble;

misclassify, missort, mistype;

alphabetize, catalog (or catalogue), file, index, list, refer;

pigeonhole, shelve;

identify, recognize;

cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow;

clump, cluster;

recategorize, reclassify, regroup;

subcategorize;

COMPARTMENT Defined for English Language Learners

compartment

noun

Definition of compartment for English Language Learners

: an enclosed space or area that is usually part of something larger and is often used to hold a specific thing
: one of the separate areas of an automobile, train, or airplane