compartment

noun

com·part·ment | \ kəm-ˈpärt-mənt

Definition of compartment

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a separate division or section

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

compartment

verb

com·part·ment | \ kəm-ˈpärt-ˌment

, -mənt\

compartmented; compartmenting; compartments

Definition of compartment (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: compartmentalize

Other Words from compartment Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about compartment

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Examples of compartment in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

compartment the responses according to country of origin

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Komsomolets had been patrolling the waters for 39 days when a fire broke out in one compartment and quickly spread through the submarine on April 7, 1989, according to the CIA report. — Washington Post, "A Soviet-era submarine is emitting radiation at levels 800,000 times normal, Norway says," 11 July 2019 And in May, Spain’s Iberia, as part of the European Union’s Life Zero Cabin Waste initiative, introduced 500 new trolleys with two-compartment bins to separate packaging and paper-cardboard from other forms of waste. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Vox, "The best $3,000 I ever spent: training for my unruly dog," 9 July 2019 Blech and his partner Jorge Fernandez kept hunting and found two more vintage Good Humor trucks, including a 1969 Ford F-100 and a 1949 Ford F-1 with a dry ice compartment to keep the product frozen. — Ron Hurtibise, sun-sentinel.com, "With much Good Humor, vintage ice cream trucks serve nostalgia on a stick," 4 July 2019 The rumen is the first of four compartments found in a ruminant’s stomach, where grass is partially digested via fermentation before passing through the rest. — National Geographic, "Can methane burps be bred out of cows?," 3 July 2019 To carry out the scheme, Munro and others constructed a shipping crate with a secret compartment under the floor in which to pack the guns and rifle parts and delivered it to the Thureon offices, according to the plea agreement. — Sophie Carson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin gun manufacturer shipped unmarked rifles, pistols to Australian arms dealer illegally, plea deal says," 29 June 2019 The shipyard would package each of the compartments for the aircraft carrier's eight reactors separately or in four double packages. — oregonlive.com, "Hanford could be resting place for aircraft carrier Enterprise’s nuclear reactors," 16 June 2019 Agents discovered four bundles hidden in an after-market compartment inside the dashboard, Francisco said. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Driver arrested after nearly $100k worth of cocaine found in car dashboard," 24 June 2019 This is managed by pumping some sort of fluid—either liquid or gas—into or out of flexible body compartments; the changes in pressure can drive the expansions and contractions needed. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Researchers make a robotic fish with a battery for blood," 19 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Kushner has not yet been approved to review ‘‘sensitive compartmented information,’’ better known as SCI. — BostonGlobe.com, "Limits put on security clearance for Jared Kushner," 13 July 2018 Kushner has not been approved to review ‘‘sensitive compartmented information,’’ known as SCI. — Washington Post, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump falsely claims for a third time that Reagan lost Wisconsin, but he was able to win it," 13 July 2018 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

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.