Piece

/piːs/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A portion or part of a whole, often referring to a discrete item or segment.
Can I have a piece of cake?
An artistic work, such as a song, painting, or literary composition.
She composed a beautiful piece for the piano.
A unit of production or a distinct item used in a game.
He moved his piece on the chessboard.
An instance of something in a broader context, often used in expressions like 'a piece of advice' or 'a piece of news'.
I need a piece of advice on how to handle this situation.
verb
To break or split something into parts, or to assemble parts to create something.
They had to piece together the evidence to solve the case.
To form something by joining parts.
He pieced the puzzle after spending hours on it.

Etymology

Middle English, from Old French 'piece', from Latin 'pax, paccis', meaning 'a weight, a portion'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

piece of cake
something very easy to do
piece of work
a person who is difficult or troublesome
to make a piece of
to create or assemble something
piece together
to combine parts to form a whole
bring to pieces
to break into many parts or to ruin something

Related Words

fragment
a small part broken off or detached
segment
a part or section of something larger
component
a part or element of a larger whole
slice
a thin, broad piece cut from something
element
a basic or essential part of something

Slang Meanings

a gun
He pulled out his piece during the altercation.
a person or thing that is considered untrustworthy or not serious
That guy is a piece of work.