segment

[ noun seg-muhnt; verb seg-ment, seg-ment ]

noun

1. one of the parts into which something naturally separates or is divided; a division, portion, or section:

   a segment of an orange.

2. Geometry.
   1. a part cut off from a figure, especially a circular or spherical one, by a line or plane, as a part of a circular area contained by an arc and its chord or by two parallel lines or planes.
   2. Also called line segment. a finite section of a line.
3. Zoology.
   1. any of the rings that compose the body of an annelid or arthropod.
   2. any of the discrete parts of the body of an animal, especially of an arthropod.
4. an object, as a machine part, having the form of a segment or sector of a circle.
5. Computers.
   1. a portion of a program, often one that can be loaded and executed independently of other portions.
   2. a unit of data in a database.
6. an arclike support on which the typebars of a typewriter rest when not in use.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to separate or divide into segments.

segment

/ ˈsɛɡməntərɪ; -trɪ /

noun

1. maths
   1. a part of a line or curve between two points
   2. a part of a plane or solid figure cut off by an intersecting line, plane, or planes, esp one between a chord and an arc of a circle
2. one of several parts or sections into which an object is divided; portion
3. zoology any of the parts into which the body or appendages of an annelid or arthropod are divided
4. linguistics a speech sound considered in isolation

verb

1. to cut or divide (a whole object) into segments

segment

/ sĕg′mənt /

1. The portion of a line between any two of its points.
2. The region bounded by an arc of a circle and the chord that connects the endpoints of the arc.
3. The portion of a sphere included between a pair of parallel planes that intersect it or are tangent to it.

Derived Forms

• segmentary, adjective

Other Words From

• seg·men·tar·y [seg, -m, uh, n-ter-ee], adjective
• segmen·tate adjective
• inter·segment noun adjective
• multi·segment adjective
• multi·segment·ed adjective
• non·segmen·tary adjective
• non·segment·ed adjective
• un·segmen·tary adjective
• un·segment·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of segment¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin segmentum, equivalent to sec(āre) “to cut” + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of segment¹

C16: from Latin segmentum, from secāre to cut

Synonym Study

See part.

Example Sentences

Natural selection leaves subtle signatures on our genome, but these marks can erode over generations due to recombination, where segments of DNA are shuffled and diluted.

From Science Daily

The segment went viral, taking the discussion national.

From Los Angeles Times

The mutations, known as copy number alterations, involve the duplication or loss of large segments of DNA.

From Science Daily

Currently held up in the Senate, the bill came to Trump's attention after a segment on the act aired on "PBS NewsHour."

From Salon

Unlike today’s earthworms, these 1-centimeter fossils, called Uncus dzaugisi, lack any segments and had an outer coat stiff enough to keep them from being completely flattened as sediments accumulated on top of them.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• division
• piece
• portion
• section
• sector
• slice