section

One part of a larger thing or place.

• Read the first section.
• They closed a section of the road.
• Which section of the newspaper do you read first?

How to use it: section of something (This section of the book explains the rules.)

Similar words: part, portion

Common phrases: section of something, sports section, section of road

The musicians in an orchestra who play the same kind of instrument, or their instruments together.

• The brass section played loudly.
• Our string section needs two more players.
• The conductor asked the percussion section to begin again.

Common phrases: brass section, string section, percussion section

To divide something into separate parts.

• Section the orange before serving it.
• She sectioned my hair before cutting it.
• The sample was sectioned into thin slices.

How to use it: section something into something (Section the dough into six pieces.)

Similar words: divide, partition

Common phrases: section an orange, section the hair, section something off