noun · verb · 22 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/pɑːˈtɪ.ʃən/
Received-Pronunciation:[phɑːˈthɪ.ʃn̩]
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/pɑɹˈtɪ.ʃən/
General-American:[phɑɹˈthɪ.ʃn̩]
rhymes with -ɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:P AA0 R T IH1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
the partitions of Poland
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A part of something that has been divided.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
the Russian Partition
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
An approach to division in which one asks what the size of each part is, rather than (as in quotition) how many parts there are.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The division of a territory into two or more autonomous ones.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Monarchies where partition isn't prohibited risk weakening through parcellation and civil wars between the heirs.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A vertical structure that divides a room.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
a brick partition; lath and plaster partitions
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
That which divides or separates; that by which different things, or distinct parts of the same thing, are separated; boundary; dividing line or space.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A part divided off by walls; an apartment; a compartment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
The severance of common or undivided interests, particularly in real estate. It may be effected by consent of parties, or by compulsion of law.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
A section of a hard disk separately formatted.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
noun
Meaning 12
A collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set whose union is the set itself (i.e. all elements of the set are contained in exactly one of the subsets).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: mathematics, sciences, set-theory
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
noun
Meaning 13
A musical score.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
verb
Meaning 14
To divide something into parts, sections or shares.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
to partition a hard drive
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
verb
Meaning 15
To divide a region or country into two or more territories with separate political status.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Poland was progressively partitioned by Russia, Austria, and Prussia in the late 18th century.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
verb
Meaning 16
To separate or divide a room by a partition (ex. a wall), often use with off.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
noun
Meaning 17
the act of dividing or partitioning; separation by the creation of a boundary that divides or keeps apart
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: divider
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: structure, construction
Narrower terms: brattice, bulkhead, screen, wall
19
noun
Meaning 19
(anatomy) a structure that separates areas in an organism
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: body part
Narrower terms: septum
20
noun
Meaning 20
(computer science) the part of a hard disk that is dedicated to a particular operating system or application and accessed as a single unit
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: computer memory unit
21
verb
Meaning 21
separate or apportion into sections
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
partition a room off
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: zone
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: separate, divide
Narrower terms: screen off, separate off
22
verb
Meaning 22
divide into parts, pieces, or sections
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The Arab peninsula was partitioned by the British
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: partition off
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: separate, divide, part
Narrower terms: pound, pound off
History
Etymology
Recorded c.1430, "division into shares, distinction," from Middle English particioun, from Old French particion (modern partition), from Latin partitio, partitionem (“division, portion”), from partitus, the past participle of partire (“to split (up), part(ition)”).
Across languages
Translations
154 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
تَقْسِيم
(taqsīm)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Arabic:
تَقْسِيم
(tagsīm)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Bengali:
বিভাজন
(bibhajon)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Bengali:
তকসিম
(tokśim)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Bulgarian:
разделяне
(razdeljane)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Dutch:
opdeling
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Dutch:
partitie
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Dutch:
splitsing
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Dutch:
verdeling
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Finnish:
ositus
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Finnish:
osittaminen
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Finnish:
jako
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Finnish:
jakaminen
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Galician:
partición
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Georgian:
დანაწილება
(danac̣ileba)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
German:
Teilung
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Greek:
διαμερισμός
(diamerismós)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Greek:
μερισμός
(merismós)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Greek:
τεμαχισμός
(temachismós)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Greek:
διχοτόμηση
(dichotómisi)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Hindi:
बँटवारा
(bãṭvārā)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Hindi:
विभाजन
(vibhājan)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Ido:
partigo
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Irish:
deighilt
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Japanese:
分割
(bunkatsu)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Malayalam:
വിഭജനം
(vibhajanaṁ)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Māori:
wāwāhanga
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Māori:
pātaki
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Russian:
разделе́ние
(razdelénije)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Russian:
деле́ние
(delénije)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Russian:
разде́л
(razdél)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Russian:
расчлене́ние
(rasčlenénije)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Sanskrit:
विभाजन
(vibhājana)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Urdu:
تقسیم
(taqasīm)
— action which divides a thing into parts, or separates one thing from another
Bulgarian:
част
(čast)
— part of something that has been divided
Bulgarian:
подразделение
(podrazdelenie)
— part of something that has been divided
Dutch:
aandeel
— part of something that has been divided
Dutch:
deel
— part of something that has been divided
Dutch:
part
— part of something that has been divided
Finnish:
osuus
— part of something that has been divided
Finnish:
osa
— part of something that has been divided
Galician:
partición
— part of something that has been divided
Greek:
κατάτμηση
(katátmisi)
— part of something that has been divided
Greek:
μέρισμα
(mérisma)
— part of something that has been divided
Greek:
διαμέρισμα
(diamérisma)
— part of something that has been divided
Greek:
τεμάχιο
(temáchio)
— part of something that has been divided
Russian:
отделе́ние
(otdelénije)
— part of something that has been divided
Russian:
се́кция
(sékcija)
— part of something that has been divided
Russian:
яче́йка
(jačéjka)
— part of something that has been divided
Russian:
разде́л
(razdél)
— part of something that has been divided
Spanish:
parte
— part of something that has been divided
Turkish:
bölme
— part of something that has been divided
Dutch:
opdeling
— division of a territory
Dutch:
partitie
— division of a territory
Dutch:
splitsing
— division of a territory
Esperanto:
disdivido
— division of a territory
Finnish:
jako
— division of a territory
Finnish:
jakaminen
— division of a territory
Greek:
διχοτόμηση
(dichotómisi)
— division of a territory
Greek:
διαίρεση
(diaíresi)
— division of a territory
Hindi:
विभाजन
(vibhājan)
— division of a territory
Japanese:
分割
(bunkatsu)
— division of a territory
Malayalam:
വിഭജനം
(vibhajanaṁ)
— division of a territory
Russian:
деле́ние
(delénije)
— division of a territory
Sindhi:
ورهاڱي
(orhāṅe)
— division of a territory
Spanish:
partición
— division of a territory
Arabic:
بارتشن
(bārtišin, pārtišin)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Azerbaijani:
arakəsmə
— vertical structure that divides a room
Bengali:
পার্টিশন
(parṭiśon)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Bulgarian:
преграда
(pregrada)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Catalan:
envà
— vertical structure that divides a room
Chinese Mandarin:
隔墙
(géqiáng)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Finnish:
tilanjakaja
— vertical structure that divides a room
Galician:
división
— vertical structure that divides a room
Greek:
χώρισμα
(chórisma)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Hebrew:
מְחִיצָה
(meẖitzá)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Hindi:
पल्ला
(pallā)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Irish:
spiara
— vertical structure that divides a room
Irish:
landair
— vertical structure that divides a room
Japanese:
パーティション
(pātishon)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Japanese:
間仕切り
(majikiri)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Korean:
칸막이
(kanmagi)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Norwegian Bokmål:
skillevegg
— vertical structure that divides a room
Norwegian Nynorsk:
skiljevegg
— vertical structure that divides a room
Persian:
پارتیشن
(pârtišen)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Plautdietsch:
Schetzel
— vertical structure that divides a room
Plautdietsch:
Scheedunk
— vertical structure that divides a room
Russian:
перегоро́дка
(peregoródka)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Russian:
перебо́рка
(perebórka)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Southern Altai:
бӧлгӱш
(bölgüš)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Southern Altai:
бӧлӱҥӱш
(bölüŋüš)
— vertical structure that divides a room
Bengali:
পার্টিশন
(parṭiśon)
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Cherokee:
ᏓᏓᏓᎴᏛᎢ
(dadadaledvi)
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Chinese Mandarin:
分區 /分区
(fēnqū)
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Czech:
diskový oddíl
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Finnish:
osio
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Finnish:
levyosio
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
French:
partition
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
German:
Partition
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Greek:
κατάτμηση
(katátmisi)
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Italian:
partizione
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Japanese:
パーティション
(pātishon)
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Māori:
pātaki
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Norwegian:
partisjon
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Persian:
پارتیشن
(pârtišen)
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Polish:
partycja
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Portuguese:
partição
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Russian:
разде́л
(razdél)
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Spanish:
partición
— section of a hard disk separately formatted
Czech:
rozklad
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
Finnish:
ositus
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
German:
Partition
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
German:
Zerlegung
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
German:
Klasseneinteilung
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
Greek:
τμήμα
(tmíma)
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
Hebrew:
חלוקה
(chaluká)
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
Icelandic:
deildaskipting
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
Japanese:
分割
(bunkatsu)
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
Spanish:
partición
— collection of non-empty, disjoint subsets of a set
Bulgarian:
разделям
(razdeljam)
— to divide something parts
Dutch:
opdelen
— to divide something parts
Dutch:
splitsen
— to divide something parts
Dutch:
verdelen
— to divide something parts
Finnish:
osittaa
— to divide something parts
Finnish:
jakaa
— to divide something parts
Ido:
partigar
— to divide something parts
Italian:
partizionare
— to divide something parts
Malayalam:
വിഭജിക്കുക
(vibhajikkuka)
— to divide something parts
Russian:
разделя́ть
(razdeljátʹ)
— to divide something parts
Russian:
раздели́ть
(razdelítʹ)
— to divide something parts
Russian:
расчленя́ть
(rasčlenjátʹ)
— to divide something parts
Russian:
расчлени́ть
(rasčlenítʹ)
— to divide something parts
Spanish:
partir
— to divide something parts
Spanish:
devisar
— to divide something parts
Spanish:
dividir
— to divide something parts
Spanish:
particionar
— to divide something parts
Swedish:
dela
— to divide something parts
Swedish:
dela upp
— to divide something parts
Dutch:
dismemberen
— to divide into territories
Dutch:
opdelen
— to divide into territories
Dutch:
splitsen
— to divide into territories
Dutch:
verdelen
— to divide into territories
Esperanto:
disdividi
— to divide into territories
Finnish:
jakaa
— to divide into territories
Italian:
suddividere
— to divide into territories
Malayalam:
വിഭജിക്കുക
(vibhajikkuka)
— to divide into territories
Russian:
дели́ть
(delítʹ)
— to divide into territories
Russian:
раздели́ть
(razdelítʹ)
— to divide into territories
Russian:
расчленя́ть
(rasčlenjátʹ)
— to divide into territories
Russian:
расчлени́ть
(rasčlenítʹ)
— to divide into territories
Bulgarian:
преграждам
(pregraždam)
— to divide a room
Finnish:
jakaa
— to divide a room
Russian:
перегороди́ть
(peregorodítʹ)
— to divide a room
Russian:
перегора́живать
(peregoráživatʹ)
— to divide a room