1. One of several parts or pieces that fit with others to constitute a whole object
   "a section of a fishing rod"; "metal sections were used below ground";
   - segment
    
2. A distinct region or subdivision of a territorial or political area or community or group of people
   "no section of the nation is more ardent than the South"; "there are three synagogues in the Jewish section"
    
3. (music) a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
   "the history of this work is discussed in the next section"; "he always turns first to the business section";
   - subdivision
    
4. A very thin slice (of tissue, mineral or other substance) for examination under a microscope
   "sections from the left ventricle showed diseased tissue"
    
5. One of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole
   "the finance section of the company";
   - part, division
    
6. A specialized division of a large organization
   "she got a job in the historical section of the Treasury";
   - department
    
7. A small army unit usually having a special function
   "The communications section maintained contact with headquarters"
    
8. A small team of policemen working as part of a police platoon
   "The section responded to the disturbance call"
    
9. A small class of students who are part of a larger course but are taught separately
   "a graduate student taught sections for the professor's lecture course"; "The professor divided the large lecture into smaller discussion sections for more interactive learning";
   - discussion section
    
10. A division of an orchestra containing all instruments of the same class
    "The string section began the piece"
     
11. A segment of a citrus fruit
    "he ate a section of the orange"
     
12. (geometry) the area created by a plane cutting through a solid
    "The students studied the plane section of a cone to understand conic sections";
    - plane section
     
13. The cutting of or into body tissues or organs (especially by a surgeon as part of an operation)
    "The surgeon made a small surgical section to insert the laparoscope";
    - incision, surgical incision
     
14. A land unit equal to 1 square mile
    "The farmer owned an entire section of prime agricultural land"

1. Divide into segments
   "section an orange";
   - segment

Derived forms: sections, sectioning, sectioned

Type of: area, army unit, class, concept, conception, construct, country, course, cut, cutting, divide, division, expanse, form, grade [N. Amer], music, musical group, musical organisation [Brit], musical organization, part, piece of writing, portion, segment, separate, slice, squad, square mile, surface area, team, writing, written material

Part of: band, citrus, citrus fruit, microscope slide, op [informal], operation, orchestra, platoon, slide, surgery, surgical operation, surgical procedure, surgical process, unit, whole

Encyclopedia: Section, Al