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

The entertainment segment’s operating income for the quarter totaled $1.1 billion, quadruple the same quarter a year earlier, which included the lackluster “Haunted Mansion.”

From Los Angeles Times

For the full year that ended Sept. 28, Disney’s entertainment segment — which includes movies, TV, Disney+ and Hulu — reported revenue of $41.2 billion, up 1% compared with the previous year.

From Los Angeles Times

Bluesky is winning a segment of the internet not because it is ideological but because it is customizable, allowing people to take more control of their experience online.

From Slate

But controversy later struck when Murray used Fighting Talk's 'Defend the Indefensible' segment to ask panellists whether they would be able to "turn" the sexuality of openly gay broadcaster Clare Balding.

From BBC

"Joe Biden has been a phenomenal president, he has lived up to the promises he made, but there is one promise left to fulfill, being a transitional figure," says Simmons in the closing segment of the show.

From Salon

Related Words

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