section

noun

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sec·tion | \ ˈsek-shən

Definition of section

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the action or an instance of cutting or separating by cutting

b : a part set off by or as if by cutting

2 : a distinct part or portion of something written (such as a chapter, law, or newspaper)

3a : the profile of something as it would appear if cut through by an intersecting plane

b : the plane figure resulting from the cutting of a solid by a plane

4 : a natural subdivision of a taxonomic group

5 : a character § used as a mark for the beginning of a section and as a reference mark

6 : a piece of land one square mile in area forming especially one of the 36 subdivisions of a township

7 : a distinct part of a territorial or political area, community, or group of people the historic section of the city

8a : a part that may be, is, or is viewed as separated a board cut into sections the northern section of the route

b : one segment of a fruit : carpel

9 : a basic military unit usually having a special function

10 : a very thin slice (as of tissue) suitable for microscopic examination

11a : one of the classes formed by dividing the students taking a course

b : one of the discussion groups into which a conference or organization is divided

12a : a part of a permanent railroad way under the care of a particular crew

b : one of two or more vehicles or trains which run on the same schedule

13 : one of several component parts that may be assembled or reassembled a bookcase in sections

14 : a division of an orchestra composed of one class of instruments the string section

15 : signature sense 3b

section

verb

sectioned; sectioning\ ˈsek-sh(ə-)niŋ

Definition of section (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cut or separate into sections section an orange

2 : to represent in sections

intransitive verb

: to become cut or separated into parts

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About section

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Synonyms for section

Synonyms: Noun

Choose the Right Synonym for section

Noun

part, portion, piece, member, division, section, segment, fragment mean something less than the whole. part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required. they ran only part of the way portion implies an assigned or allotted part. cut the pie into six portions piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole. a puzzle with 500 pieces member suggests one of the functional units composing a body. a structural member division applies to a large or diversified part. the manufacturing division of the company section applies to a relatively small or uniform part. the entertainment section of the newspaper segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage. the retired segment of the population fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off. only a fragment of the play still exists

Examples of section in a Sentence

Noun the upper section of the bridge This section of the road is closed. the frozen food section in the supermarket the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn Do you want to sit in the nonsmoking section? The dictionary includes a section on signs and symbols. Section 1123 of the bankruptcy code. ads that target one section of the population The siding comes in five-foot sections. Verb Peel and section the orange. Section the chicken and marinate the parts. She was sectioned by the judge.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The New Currents competition section and the Kim Ji-seok Award contenders were all announced in recent weeks. — Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 Sep. 2021 An argument erupted when a 29-year-old partygoer asked G-Eazy and his entourage to move to another section. — al, 15 Sep. 2021 Driving in a straight line over a somewhat penalizing curb through asphalt may be a wash or a gain for drivers through that section. — Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Sep. 2021 Davy was already intubated and had stopped directly communicating with her family by the time her newest daughter was born via Caesarean section on Aug. 18, Serey said. — The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2021 That was an optimistic prediction at the time; none of the six Globe writers in the baseball preview section picked them to make the playoffs. — BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2021 Another new section will be called the Close Up, which is a destination for in-depth stories across entertainment and the industry. — Lauren Huff, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2021 Though the facility remains largely empty, one section holds around 60 people imprisoned in the past few weeks, who the guards said were mostly accused criminals and drug addicts. — Greg Norman, Fox News, 14 Sep. 2021 Bo scanned the Rose Bowl stands, spotted David in the family section and gave him a wave. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Pompano Beach City Hall scrambled to get cones for the volunteers to section off the area quickly from human intruders who could wreak havoc. — Lisa J. Huriash, sun-sentinel.com, 5 July 2021 Outdoor rugs look great on patios or even to section off an outdoor living space in a backyard with a dining table or a sofa and chairs. — Amanda Lauren, Forbes, 14 June 2021 However, to section off a few buildings that maintain commitment to the classics while not providing other pressure leaves too many without. — Daniel Buck, National Review, 6 June 2021 Earlier that day at Old Ebbitt, that old-school downtown outpost for politicos and tourists, the staff preparing for lunch had rolled away the plexiglass dividers that had been used to section off bar seating. — Washington Post, 25 May 2021 Typically the artist uses a pencil to section the egg into a grid, and then draws on a detailed pattern or design. — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Mar. 2021 Since the college has more students, leadership decided to section off groups of students of 50 or fewer in different classrooms. — Nienke Onneweer, The Arizona Republic, 6 May 2021 Plexiglass will section off each judge, witness and court reporter. — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2021 Start by parting your hair at your natural part line, and then section off your hair with clips. — Samantha Driscoll, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2020

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

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Dictionary Entries Near section

sectile

section

sectional

Statistics for section

Last Updated

17 Sep 2021

Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/section. Accessed 19 Sep. 2021.

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More Definitions for section

section

noun

English Language Learners Definition of section

(Entry 1 of 2)

: one of the parts that form something

: a particular area that is part of a larger place

: a part of a newspaper, play, book, etc.

section

verb

English Language Learners Definition of section (Entry 2 of 2)

: to divide (something) into parts

: to officially send (a mentally ill person) to a psychiatric hospital

See the full definition for section in the English Language Learners Dictionary

section

noun

sec·tion | \ ˈsek-shən

Kids Definition of section

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a division of a thing or place A section of the fence broke.

2 : a part cut off or separated a section of an orange

3 : a part of a written work the sports section of a newspaper

4 : cross section sense 1

section

verb

sectioned; sectioning

Kids Definition of section (Entry 2 of 2)

: to cut into parts

section

noun

sec·tion | \ ˈsek-shən

Medical Definition of section

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the action or an instance of cutting or separating by cutting especially : the action of dividing (as tissues) surgically nerve section abdominal section — see cesarean section

2 : a natural subdivision of a taxonomic group

3 : a very thin slice (as of tissue) suitable for microscopic examination

section

transitive verb

sectioned; sectioning\ -sh(ə-)niŋ

Medical Definition of section (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to divide (a body part or organ) surgically section a nerve

2 : to cut (fixed tissue) into thin slices for microscopic examination