section

1 of 2

noun

sec·​tion ˈsek-shən How to pronounce section (audio)
1
a
: 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)
3
a
: 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
8
a
: 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
11
a
: 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
12
a
: 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

section

2 of 2

verb

sectioned; sectioning ˈsek-sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce section (audio)

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
Choose the Right Synonym for section

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 freeway sections that would be repaired date to 1974. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024 This bonus bounty is mirrored for the online poker section, ensuring equal excitement across both realms. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 During a meeting on Feb. 13, many listened as caller after caller spouted vulgar rhetoric during the public comments section. Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 Each of the 10 sections that govern high school sports will be submitting representatives. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Couple that with hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters shutting down a major section of Hollywood and many A-listers arrived with just seconds to spare. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Boeing is facing a rigorous review from federal aviation regulators after a series of incidents, including the blowout of a fuselage section during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Mary Schlangenstein, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 The debut feature of award-winning photo-journalists Kristoffer Juel Poulsen and Christian Als will world premiere in the F:ACT competition section of the leading international documentary festival CPH:DOX in Copenhagen. Annika Pham, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 The inclusion of specialized sections allows for a personalized certification path, aligning with individual career goals and reflecting the profession’s dynamic nature. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
Her salon is reminiscent of braiding stalls peppered throughout many West African countries, where remnants of hair extensions dust the floor like tumbleweeds as braiders shift back and forth from French to English while sectioning, twisting and dipping hair in boiling water to seal the ends. Lateshia Beachum, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023 The suit states that on Aug. 20, Weekes-Rivera, 38, arrived to work with her hair arranged in Bantu knots, a style in which the hair is sectioned and twisted around its base to form a spiral. Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2023 Simply section your hair and spray everywhere, from roots to lengths, before massaging it into your scalp. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 30 Oct. 2023 Her hair was sectioned and slicked into four pigtails. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 11 Sep. 2023 After sectioning the hair with edge control, braiding hair was fed in. Akili King, Essence, 13 Sep. 2023 Buy a ticket to a show or sporting event at Capitol One arena, then head inside, snaking your way to section 113/114. Sarath Ganji, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2023 Pro tip: section your hair along your natural part and keep it intact while applying the curlers. Talia Ergas, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2023 Plus, the retractable pick at the end is great for sectioning my hair. Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 31 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'section.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin section-, sectio, from secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use

Noun

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1819, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of section was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near section

Cite this Entry

“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/section. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

section

1 of 2 noun
sec·​tion ˈsek-shən How to pronounce section (audio)
1
: a part cut off or separated
a section of an orange
2
: a part of a written work
the sports section of the newspaper
3
: the appearance that a thing has or would have if cut straight through
a drawing of a ship in section
4
: a part of an area, community, or group of people
the business section of town
5
: one of several parts (as of a bookcase) that may be assembled or reassembled
6
: a part of an orchestra composed of one class of instruments
the brass section

section

2 of 2 verb
sectioned; sectioning -sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce section (audio)
1
: to cut or separate into or become cut or separated into parts or sections
2
: to represent in sections (as by a drawing)
Etymology

Noun

from Latin section-, sectio "section, the act of cutting," from secare "to cut" — related to dissect, insect

Medical Definition

section

1 of 2 noun
sec·​tion ˈsek-shən How to pronounce section (audio)
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

2 of 2 transitive verb
sectioned; sectioning -sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce section (audio)
1
: to divide (a body part or organ) surgically
section a nerve
2
: to cut (fixed tissue) into thin slices for microscopic examination

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