Meaning & Definition of word "Piece"

Piece

/piːs/

noun:

  • 1. A portion or part of a whole, often referring to a discrete item or segment.
    • Example: Can I have a piece of cake?
  • 2. An artistic work, such as a song, painting, or literary composition.
    • Example: She composed a beautiful piece for the piano.
  • 3. A unit of production or a distinct item used in a game.
    • Example: He moved his piece on the chessboard.
  • 4. An instance of something in a broader context, often used in expressions like 'a piece of advice' or 'a piece of news'.
    • Example: I need a piece of advice on how to handle this situation.

verb:

  • 1. To break or split something into parts, or to assemble parts to create something.
    • Example: They had to piece together the evidence to solve the case.
  • 2. To form something by joining parts.
    • Example: 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 of piece

Meaning: a gun

Example Sentence: He pulled out his piece during the altercation.

Meaning: a person or thing that is considered untrustworthy or not serious

Example Sentence: That guy is a piece of work.