subdivision

/ˌsʌbdəˈvɪʒən/

/ˈsʌbdɪvɪʒɪn/

Other forms: subdivisions

When something large or complex is split into smaller parts, you can call each part a subdivision. The act of separating something into parts is also called subdivision.

In North America, when someone mentions a subdivision, they probably mean a suburban neighborhood. When planned communities are designed, developers subdivide the plots of land to make it easier to sell them. If a botanist talks about subdivisions, she means something completely different: a ranked group of plants. No matter how the word is used, a subdivision is basically a smaller section of a section, or a part of something that's divided.

Definitions of subdivision

1. noun

   the act of subdividing; division of something previously divided
   type of:

   division, partition, partitioning, sectionalisation, sectionalization, segmentation

   the act of dividing or partitioning; separation by the creation of a boundary that divides or keeps apart
2. noun

   a division of some larger or more complex organization
   synonyms: arm, branch

   types:

   local post office, post office

   a local branch where postal services are available"

   Executive Office of the President, executive branch

   the branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws

   legislative branch

   the branch of the United States government that has the power of legislating

   judicial branch

   the branch of the United States government responsible for the administration of justice

   type of:

   division

   an administrative unit in government or business
3. noun

   a section of a section; a part of a part; i.e., a part of something already divided
   synonyms: subsection

   type of:

   section, segment

   one of several parts or pieces that fit with others to constitute a whole object
4. noun

   an area composed of subdivided lots
   type of:

   parcel, parcel of land, piece of ground, piece of land, tract

   an extended area of land
5. noun

   a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
   synonyms: section

   types:

   lead, lead-in, lede

   the introductory section of a story

   canto

   a major division of a long poem

   above

   an earlier section of a written text

   sports section

   the section of a newspaper that reports on sports

   article, clause

   a separate section of a legal document (as a statute or contract or will)

   book

   a major division of a long written composition

   chapter

   a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

   episode

   a brief section of a literary or dramatic work that forms part of a connected series

   spot

   a section of an entertainment that is assigned to a specific performer or performance

   spot

   a short section or illustration (as between radio or tv programs or in a magazine) that is often used for advertising

   insert

   a folded section placed between the leaves of another publication

   introduction

   the first section of a communication

   narration

   (rhetoric) the second section of an oration in which the facts are set forth

   close, closing, conclusion, end, ending

   the last section of a communication

   passage

   a section of text; particularly a section of medium length

   mezuza, mezuzah

   religious texts from Deuteronomy inscribed on parchment and rolled up in a case that is attached to the doorframe of many Jewish households in accordance with Jewish law

   sura

   one of the sections (or chapters) in the Koran

   exposition

   (music) the section of a movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes first occur

   obbligato, obligato

   a part of the score that must be performed without change or omission

   recapitulation

   (music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) in which musical themes that were introduced earlier are repeated

   development

   (music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes are developed and elaborated

   verse

   a group of lines that form one section of a song or poem

   verse

   one of short subdivisions of a chapter in the Bible

   anticlimax, bathos

   a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one

   arbitration clause

   a clause in a contract providing for arbitration of disputes arising under the contract

   deductible

   a clause in an insurance policy that relieves the insurer of responsibility to pay the initial loss up to a stated amount

   double indemnity

   a clause in an insurance policy that provides for double the face value of the policy in the case of accidental death

   escalator, escalator clause

   a clause in a contract that provides for an increase or a decrease in wages or prices or benefits etc. depending on certain conditions (as a change in the cost of living index)

   joker

   an inconspicuous clause in a document or bill that affects its meaning in a way that is not immediately apparent

   reserve clause

   a clause that used to be part of the contract with a professional athlete extending the contract for a year beyond its expiration

   rider

   a clause that is appended to a legislative bill

   exordium

   (rhetoric) the introductory section of an oration or discourse

   opening

   the initial part of the introduction

   foreword, preface, prolusion

   a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

   preamble

   a preliminary introduction to a statute or constitution (usually explaining its purpose)

   prolegomenon

   a preliminary discussion inserted at the beginning of a book or treatise

   afterword, epilog, epilogue

   a short section added at the end of a literary work

   epilog, epilogue

   a short speech (often in verse) addressed directly to the audience by an actor at the end of a play

   peroration

   (rhetoric) the concluding section of an oration

   excerpt, excerption, extract, selection

   a passage selected from a larger work

   locus classicus

   an authoritative and often-quoted passage

   place

   the passage that is being read

   purple passage

   a passage full of ornate and flowery language

   transition

   a passage that connects a topic to one that follows

   Epistle

   a book of the New Testament written in the form of a letter from an Apostle

   prologue

   an introduction to a play

   coda, finale

   the closing section of a musical composition

   text

   a passage from the Bible that is used as the subject of a sermon

   prologue

   an introductory section of a novel or other literary work

   type of:

   piece of writing, writing, written material

   the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect)

   music

   an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner