1013
particular
par·son /'pɑ:sən||'pɑ:r-/ n 1 a priest of the Church of England who is in charge of a PARISH 2 AmE a Protestant priest who is in charge of a local church or PARISH 3 infl any Christian priest
par·son·age /'pɑ:sənɪdʒ||'pɑ:r-/ n the house where a parson lives
,parson's 'nose BrE || pope's nose AmE — n infl humor the piece of flesh at the tail end of a cooked bird, such as a chicken
part¹ /pa:t||pa:rt/ n 1 [C;U (of)] any of the pieces into which something is divided or may be considered as being divided, whether separated from a whole or connected with it, and which is therefore less than the whole: This is only (a) part of it; where's the rest? | I didn't like the first part of the book. | Which part of the town do you live in? | Divide the mixture into two equal parts. | A large part of the house was/Large parts of the house were destroyed by the fire. | The best part of my job is all the travel it involves. | She lived there for the greater part (=most) of her life. | We waited for the best part/the better part of an hour. (=almost an hour) 2 [C] a division of a story or other work which appears regularly on radio or television, in a newspaper, as a PART WORK etc: You can see part two of the serial at the same time next week. | a book by Charles Dickens, adapted for radio in 14 parts 3 [C] a) a necessary or important piece of a machine or other apparatus: This machine has over a hundred moving parts. b) a SPARE PART 4 [C] any of several equal divisions which make up a whole: This mixture is one part wine and two parts water. | (infml) The work's three parts (=three quarters; nearly) finished. 5 [S;U(in)] a share or responsibility in some activity: to take part in a race/a debate | Luck played a part in (=helped to cause) his success. | The question of cost will play an important part in our decision. | He was the host, so it wasn't my part to tell him who should be invited. | This is a dishonest plan, and I want no part in it. 6 [U] a side or position a) in an argument: Tom took my part in the disagreement. (=supported my side) b) law in an agreement or contract 7 [C] (the words and actions of) a character acted by an actor in a play, film etc: Have you learnt your part yet? | She's been offered a marvellous part in the new film. | In the play, I take/play the part of a policeman. | (fig.) He's a very successful businessman, but he doesn't really look/dress the part. (=look/dress like someone in that position) → see also BIT PART 8 [C] AmE for PARTING 9 for my part as far as I am concerned; speaking for myself: For my part, I don't care who wins. 10 for the most part a) mostly: This orange drink is for the most part water. b) most of the time; in most cases: For the most part the children are very healthy. 11 BrE in good part without being offended: I hope you will take my advice in good part. 12 in part in some degree; partly: The accident was due in part to carelessness, but mainly to bad luck. 13 on the part of someone of or by someone: It was a mistake on the part of Jones/on Jones's part (=Jones was mistaken) to sign the contract without reading it. 14 part and parcel of a necessary or important part that cannot be separated from the whole of: Working irregular hours is part and parcel of being a journalist. → see also PARTS, PRIVATE PARTS
part² v 1 [I(from, as);T(from)] especially fml or lit to (cause to) separate or no longer be together: I hope we can part (as) friends. (=remain friends even though we part) | The war parted many men from their families. | We tried to part the two angry dogs. (=stop them fighting) | She refused to be parted from her beloved cat. 2 [I;T] to (cause to) separate into parts or spread apart: The clouds parted and the sun shone. | She parted the curtains and looked out. 3 [T] to separate (hair on the head) along a line with a comb 4 part company (with) a) to end a relationship (with): I hear he and his wife have parted company. b) to no longer be together (with): I'm getting off the train here, so we must part company. c) to disagree (with): I'll have to part company with you on that point. 5 parting is such sweet sorrow quote a phrase from Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet often used humorously
part with sthg. phr v [T] to give away; stop having: It's not easy to part with one's favourite possessions.
part³ adv partly: The medical exams are part written, part practical.
part⁴ adj [A] not complete; PARTIAL: I gave them a pound in part payment. | They are part owners of the house. (=they share ownership of it)
par·take /pa:'teik||pa:r-/ v partook /'tuk/, partaken /'teikən/ [I] old use or fml 1 [(in)] to take part (in an activity); PARTICIPATE 2 [(of)] often humor to eat or drink especially something offered: 'Will you partake of a little wine?' 'No, thank you; I don't partake.' (=don't drink alcohol)
partake of sthg. phr v [T] fml to have the qualities, to some degree, of: a self-confident manner that partakes of arrogance
par·terre /pa:'teə||pa:r-/ n a level space in a garden, with an area of grass and decorative areas of flowers in a formal pattern
,part ex'change BrE || trade-in AmE — n [C;U] (an example of) the system of paying for something partly in money and partly in goods, especially with a used object of the same kind as the thing one is buying: When you buy a new car you can often give your old one in part exchange.
par·the·no·gen·e·sis /ˌpa:θənəu'dʒenəsɪs||ˌpa:r-/ n [U] tech the production of a new plant or animal from a female without sexual union with a male
Par·the·non, the /'pa:θənɒn||'pa:rθənɑ:n/ an ancient building on the ACROPOLIS in Athens, built in the 5th century BC and known as the most famous example of a Greek TEMPLE. The Parthenon was badly damaged in a war in the 17th century, but people now worry that it is being damaged by POLLUTION and by the very large numbers of tourists who visit it. → see also ELGIN MARBLES
par·tial /'pa:ʃəl||'pa:r-/ adj 1 not complete: a partial success/recovery 2 derog showing special favour to one person, side etc, especially in a way that is unfair → opposite IMPARTIAL 3 [F+to] infml having a strong liking or taste for: I'm very partial to cream cakes. → see also PARTIALLY
par·ti·al·i·ty /ˌpa:ʃi'ælɪti||ˌpa:r-/ n 1 [U] derog being PARTIAL; BIAS → opposite IMPARTIALITY 2 [S(for)] a special liking or fondness: a partiality for cream cakes
par·tial·ly /'pa:ʃəli||'pa:r-/ adv 1 not completely; partly: He was (only) partially to blame for the accident. 2 derog in a PARTIAL way
,partially 'sighted adj unable to see well
par·tic·i·pant /pa:'tisipənt||pa:r-/ n [(in)] a person who takes part or has a share in an activity or event: All participants in the race should give their names to the starter.
par·tic·i·pate /pa:'tisipeit||pa:r-/ v [I(in)] rather fml to take part or have a share in an activity or event: Everyone in the class is expected to participate in these discussions. —pation /paːˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃən||pa:r-/ n [U(in)] They want greater participation in the decision-making process.
par·tic·i·pial /ˌpa:tɪ'sipiəl||ˌpa:r-/ adj tech (in grammar) being or using a participle: 'Singing' in 'a singing bird' is a participial adjective. —ly adv
par·tic·i·ple /'pa:tɪsɪpəl||'pa:r-/ n tech (in grammar) a NON-FINITE verb form that can be used in compound forms of the verb or as an adjective. English has two participles, the PAST PARTICIPLE and the PRESENT PARTICIPLE.
par·ti·cle /'pa:tɪkəl||'pa:r-/ n 1 [(of)] a very small piece: dust particles floating in the sunlight | (fig.) There wasn't a particle of truth in what he said. → see also ELEMENTARY PARTICLE 2 (in grammar) any of a number of usually short words that are not as important in a sentence as the subject, verb etc: Prepositions and conjunctions are particles.
'particle ac,celerator n ACCELERATOR
'particle ,physics n [U] the study of the formation and behaviour of ELEMENTARY PARTICLES (=very small bits of matter inside atoms)
par·ti·col·oured /ˌpa:ti 'kʌləd● ||ˌpa:rti 'kʌlərd● / adj having different colours in different parts
par·tic·u·lar¹ /pə'tɪkjʊlə||pər-/ adj 1 [A no comp.] deserving special notice or attention; unusual: There was nothing in the letter of particular importance. | There's no particular reason why you shouldn't go. 2 [A no comp.] single and different from others; considered separately: This particular case is an exception to the rule. | Shall I just order beer, or is there some particular type you prefer? 3 [(about, over)] showing (too) much care or interest in small matters: He's very particular about having his breakfast at exactly 8 o'clock. | She's very particular about her food. (=chooses it carefully and will not eat certain kinds) | {+wh-} I'm not particular (=do not care)