compartment

1 of 2

noun

com·​part·​ment kəm-ˈpärt-mənt How to pronounce compartment (audio)
1
: a separate division or section
2
: one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided
compartmental adjective

compartment

2 of 2

verb

com·​part·​ment kəm-ˈpärt-ˌment How to pronounce compartment (audio)
-mənt
compartmented; compartmenting; compartments

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Merck especially loves the thoughtful compartments: the carabiner for jewelry, the zippered pouch for hair ties and bobby pins, and the elastic loops for makeup brushes. Simon Hill, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024 The Sienna and Tucson both use a single radar to observe the passenger compartment. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 30 Nov. 2024
Verb
In the place where sport bikes keep their engines, the Navi has a lockable storage compartment large enough to cram in shoes, books or laptops (but not a full-face helmet). Dan Neil, WSJ, 4 Mar. 2022 One flew into the drivers compartment through an open window and struck him in the face, temporarily stunning him. NBC News, 9 June 2021 See all Example Sentences for compartment 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of compartment was circa 1578

Dictionary Entries Near compartment

Cite this Entry

“Compartment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compartment. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

compartment

noun
com·​part·​ment
kəm-ˈpärt-mənt
1
: a separate division or section
2
: one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided

More from Merriam-Webster on compartment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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