partition
B2Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A physical or conceptual division that separates one area or group from another.
The action or state of dividing something into parts; a structure that divides a space; a section of a computer's storage; a legal division of property.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both the act of dividing (verb) and the resulting division/structure (noun). In computing, specifically refers to logical divisions of a hard drive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling identical. Usage patterns similar, though 'partition' in property law (partition of land) may have slightly different legal applications.
Connotations
Both varieties carry similar connotations of separation, division, and organization. In political contexts, can evoke historical events like the Partition of India.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties. Slightly more common in technical/business contexts in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
partition something (into something)partition something offbe partitioned from somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “partition off”
- “a house divided cannot stand (conceptually related)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to dividing departments, assets, or market segments. 'The board approved the partition of the company into two independent entities.'
Academic
Used in history, political science, and computer science. 'The study examines the social consequences of the 1947 partition.'
Everyday
Typically refers to physical dividers in homes or offices. 'We put up a partition to create a separate workspace.'
Technical
In computing, a logical division of a storage device. 'You need to format the new partition before installing the OS.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The landlord decided to partition the large flat into two smaller units.
- They partitioned off a corner of the room for the new nursery.
American English
- We need to partition the hard drive before installing the new operating system.
- The agreement partitioned the estate equally among the three heirs.
adverb
British English
- The space was partitionally divided.
adjective
British English
- The partition wall was not load-bearing.
- They sought a partition order from the court to divide the property.
American English
- The partition agreement was filed with the county clerk.
- Partition walls in the office are made of sound-absorbing material.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a glass partition between the kitchen and the living room.
- The teacher put up a partition to make two classrooms.
- We used a bookshelf as a room partition.
- The office has open-plan spaces with movable partitions.
- The country was partitioned after the war, leading to decades of tension.
- You should create a separate partition on your disk for backup files.
- The treaty effectively partitioned the region into spheres of influence.
- Mathematicians study partition theory, which deals with ways of dividing integers into sums.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PARTy that needs to be divided (partitioned) into smaller rooms for different activities.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIVISION IS A WALL / ORGANIZATION IS SEPARATION
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'part' (часть). 'Partition' is 'перегородка' or 'раздел', not just 'часть'.
- In computing, it's 'раздел диска', not 'папка' or 'директория'.
- The verb 'to partition' is 'разделять/разделить', not 'делить' in the sense of sharing.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'partition' as a synonym for 'room' (It's the divider, not the room itself).
- Misspelling as 'partion' or 'partitian'.
- Confusing verb and noun usage: 'They decided to partition' vs. 'They built a partition'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'partition' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is used for physical dividers, conceptual divisions (e.g., political partitions), and technical divisions (e.g., disk partitions).
A wall is typically a permanent, structural part of a building. A partition is often a temporary or non-structural divider placed within a space.
Yes, commonly. E.g., 'to partition a room' or 'to partition a hard drive.'
Slightly. The main difference is the vowel in the first syllable: /pɑː-/ in British English is longer than /pɑːr-/ in American English, and the 'r' is pronounced in American English.
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