Meaning & use
chapter
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Meanings
nouncountable
One of the main parts into which a book is divided, usually numbered or titled.
Grammar: Countable: a chapter, several chapters. Often used with 'in' or 'of': in chapter three, the first chapter of the book.
Patterns
- chapter one
- in the first chapter
- a chapter of a book
- read a chapter
The novel has twenty chapters, each told from a different character's point of view.
I fell asleep while reading the last chapter of the book.
Chapter three explains how the experiment was designed.
nouncountable
A local branch of a larger club, society, or organization.
Grammar: Countable: a chapter, local chapters. Often followed by 'of': a chapter of the association.
Patterns
- a local chapter
- the chapter of an organization
- start a chapter
She joined the local chapter of the environmental group.
The association has chapters in every major city.
Our school's chapter of the honor society meets on Fridays.
nouncountablefigurative
A period or phase in a person's life or in history.
Grammar: Countable and often figurative: a new chapter, a difficult chapter. Common in phrases like 'a chapter in someone's life'.
Patterns
- a chapter in something
- a new chapter
- close a chapter
Moving to a new country opened a fresh chapter in her life.
The war was a dark chapter in the nation's history.
He decided to close that chapter and start again.
Word forms
| plural | chapters |
|---|
Common combinations
- chapter and verse
- She can quote the rules chapter and verse.
- a new chapter
- Graduating from university marked a new chapter in his life.
- the opening chapter
- The opening chapter introduces the main characters.
- chapter meeting
- The local chapter meeting will be held online.
Synonyms and how they differ
- section
- Section is a more general word for any part of a text; chapter specifically refers to a main division of a book.
- episode
- Episode is used for parts of a series or a period of events, not for parts of a book.
- branch
- Branch is a general term for a local office or division; chapter is used mainly for clubs and societies.
Word family
- chapter book noun
- A book for young readers divided into short chapters.
Commonly confused: chapter or chaptre?
chapter vs chaptre
Chaptre is not a standard English spelling; the correct spelling is chapter.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'chapter' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Chapter refers to a main division of a book, so 'turn to chapter five' is correct. The other options confuse chapter with unrelated words or uses.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chapter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.