section

I. noun Etymology: Latin section-, sectio, from secare to cut — more at saw Date: 1534 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 (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. signature 3b Synonyms: see part II. verb (sectioned; sectioning) Date: 1819 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