Meaning & use
parts
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“parts” is a form of “part”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Pieces or sections that make up a whole thing.
Grammar: Plural of 'part'; used with plural verbs: the parts are here.
Patterns
- parts of something
- in parts
- break into parts
The book is divided into three parts.
Some parts of the city are very old.
She took the clock apart and cleaned all the parts.
nounpluraltechnical
Spare components or replacement pieces for machines, vehicles, or devices.
Grammar: Usually plural; often used in business and repair contexts.
Patterns
- spare parts
- auto parts
- order parts
The garage is waiting for spare parts to arrive.
He works at a shop that sells car parts.
We need to order parts to fix the washing machine.
nounpluralinformal
A region or area, especially one that is distant or unfamiliar.
Grammar: Often used in phrases like 'these parts' or 'in these parts'.
Patterns
- in these parts
- from these parts
- around these parts
Not many people visit these parts in winter.
Are you from around these parts?
It's the best restaurant in these parts.
Word forms
| singular | part |
|---|
Common combinations
- spare parts
- The mechanic ordered spare parts for the engine.
- parts of the world
- People in many parts of the world speak English.
- auto parts
- He bought auto parts online to save money.
- in these parts
- There isn't much rain in these parts.
- parts and labor
- The repair cost $200 for parts and labor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pieces
- Use 'pieces' for separate fragments; 'parts' often suggests components that fit together in a machine or system.
- components
- More technical; used for parts of a machine or system, not for sections of a book or region.
- sections
- Better for divisions of a document or area; 'parts' is broader and can mean components.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: parts or parties?
parts vs parties
A different word meaning social events or political groups. 'Parts' has no 'i' before 'e'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'parts' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Parts' as a plural noun means components, so 'buy some parts' is correct. Option 2 uses 'parts' as a verb meaning divides, but the sentence is unnatural. Option 3 is a misspelling of 'participates'. Option 4 uses a plural noun with a singular verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “parts”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.