compartment
|com-part-ment|
🇺🇸
/kəmˈpɑrtmənt/
🇬🇧
/kəmˈpɑːtmənt/
separate section
Etymology
'compartment' originates from French, specifically the word 'compartiment', where 'com-' meant 'together' and 'partir/partire' meant 'to divide or share'.
'compartment' changed from French 'compartiment' and entered English in a similar form as 'compartment' via Middle French and possibly Italian influences.
Initially, it meant 'the act of dividing or a divided part', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a distinct section or enclosed space within a larger whole'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a separate section or enclosed space within a larger area or container, often formed by partitions.
The truck has a refrigerated compartment for perishable goods.
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Noun 2
one of the separate small rooms or booths within a railway carriage or similar vehicle.
They booked a compartment for the overnight train.
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Noun 3
a distinct functional area within a biological cell or system, such as an organelle or region with a specific role.
Cellular compartments like mitochondria perform specialized functions.
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Last updated: 2026/01/16 23:49