section

A1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈsɛkʃən/ UK /ˈsɛkʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #2396

Meanings

1

noun
one of the parts that something is divided into

Please read the first section of the report.
2

noun
a distinct area within a place or larger group

The non-smoking section is at the back of the restaurant.
3

noun
a separate part of a newspaper or book about a particular topic

He always reads the sports section first.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · one of the parts that... subdivision segment

More division part piecesectioslice snippet

Opposites

whole

Word family

Forms sectionalsectionedsectioningsections

Derived forms bisectionc-sectioncosectioncryosectiondissectiondownsectionecosectionhemisectionhistosectionhypersectioninfrasectionmicrosection

Related forms bisect dissect insect intersectprosectresectsecant sect sectarian sectary sector segment

Appears in

Phrases (3)

See all

Simplified etymology

Section, recorded from the late Middle English period, ultimately derives from the Latin root secare, meaning “to cut.” The same root also lies behind insect, dissect, secateurs, and segment.

Etymology

From Middle English seccioun, from Old French section, from Latin sectiō (“cutting, cutting off, excision, amputation of diseased parts of the body, etc.”), from sectus, past participle of secāre (“to cut”). More at saw.

*sek- Proto-Indo-European seccioun Middle English section Old French sectiō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# section

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɛkʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɛkʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 2396

## Meanings
1. one of the parts that something is divided into
2. a distinct area within a place or larger group
3. a separate part of a newspaper or book about a particular topic

## Examples
- Please read the first section of the report.
- The non-smoking section is at the back of the restaurant.
- He always reads the sports section first.

## Synonyms
- division
- part
- piece
- sectio
- slice
- snippet

## Antonyms
- whole

## Derived Forms
- bisection
- c-section
- cosection
- cryosection
- dissection
- downsection
- ecosection
- hemisection
- histosection
- hypersection
- infrasection
- microsection

## Related Forms
- bisect
- dissect
- insect
- intersect
- prosect
- resect
- secant
- sect
- sectarian
- sectary
- sector
- segment

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *sek-
- Root: seccioun
- Root: section
- Root: sectiō

## Etymology
From Middle English seccioun, from Old French section, from Latin sectiō (“cutting, cutting off, excision, amputation of diseased parts of the body, etc.”), from sectus, past participle of secāre (“to cut”). More at saw.

## AI Etymology
Section is from Middle English seccioun, from Old French section, from Latin sectiō (“cutting, cutting off, excision, amputation of diseased parts of the body, etc.”), from sectus, past participle of secāre (“to cut”). More at saw. Important forms in the word's history include Proto-Indo-European *sek-, Middle English seccioun, Old French section, Latin sectiō. In current use it includes senses such as one of the parts that something is divided into and a distinct area within a place or larger group.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

markdown