partition

/pɑrˈtɪʃən/

/pɑˈtɪʃən/

Other forms: partitions; partitioned; partitioning

A partition is something that divides space. When your younger brother decides to stop bathing, setting up a partition between his side of the room and yours seems like a good idea...until you realize your partition is not air-tight.

Partition can be used as a noun or as a verb. As a noun, it usually refers to a physical barrier between spaces. As a verb, to partition is to separate into sections — like to partition an office space into different work spaces. One can also partition something that does not involve physical space — like when you partition school life from home life, you are splitting your life into two parts that don’t intersect.

Definitions of partition

1. noun

   the act of dividing or partitioning; separation by the creation of a boundary that divides or keeps apart
   synonyms: division, partitioning, sectionalisation, sectionalization, segmentation

   types:

   subdivision

   the act of subdividing; division of something previously divided

   septation

   the division or partitioning of a cavity into parts by a septum

   zoning

   dividing an area into zones or sections reserved for different purposes such as residence and business and manufacturing etc

   type of:

   separation

   the act of dividing or disconnecting
2. noun

   a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)
   synonyms: divider

   types:

   brattice

   a partition (often temporary) of planks or cloth that is used to control ventilation in a mine

   bulkhead

   a partition that divides a ship or plane into compartments

   screen

   partition consisting of a decorative frame or panel that serves to divide a space

   wall

   an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

   altarpiece, reredos

   a painted or carved screen placed above and behind an altar or communion table

   attic

   (architecture) a low wall at the top of the entablature; hides the roof

   bearing wall

   any wall supporting a floor or the roof of a building

   cavity wall

   a wall formed of two thicknesses of masonry with a space between them

   chimney breast

   walls that project out from the wall of a room and surround the chimney base

   firewall

   a fireproof (or fire-resistant) wall designed to prevent the spread of fire through a building or a vehicle

   gable, gable end, gable wall

   the vertical triangular wall between the sloping ends of a gable roof

   parapet

   a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony

   proscenium, proscenium wall

   the wall that separates the stage from the auditorium in a modern theater

   purdah

   a screen used in India to separate women from men or strangers

   rood screen

   a screen in a church; separates the nave from the choir or chancel

   sidewall

   a wall that forms the side of a structure

   wainscoting, wainscotting

   a wainscoted wall (or wainscoted walls collectively)

   type of:

   construction, structure

   a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts
3. noun

   (anatomy) a structure that separates areas in an organism
   types:

   septum

   (anatomy) a dividing partition between two tissues or cavities

   nasal septum

   a partition of bone and cartilage between the nasal cavities

   type of:

   body part

   any part of an organism such as an organ or extremity
4. verb

   divide into parts, pieces, or sections
   “The Arab peninsula was partitioned by the British”

   synonyms: partition off

   types:

   pound, pound off

   partition off into compartments

   type of:

   divide, part, separate

   come apart
5. verb

   separate or apportion into sections
   “partition a room off”

   synonyms: zone

   types:

   screen off, separate off

   partition by means of a divider, such as a screen

   type of:

   divide, separate

   make a division or separation
6. noun

   (computer science) the part of a hard disk that is dedicated to a particular operating system or application and accessed as a single unit
   type of:

   computer memory unit

   a unit for measuring computer memory