Reading Theme:
Section: Definition, Usage & Real-Life Examples (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：separated part (section)
section
/ˈsekʃn/
n.
A part or piece of something larger that has been separated or divided out.
separated part
➕
/ˈsɛpəreɪtɪd pɑːrt/
n.
A distinct piece or portion that has been divided from a larger whole.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'sectio' (a cutting), from 'secare' (to cut).
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'SECtion' as a SECured part, like cutting an orange into SECtions with a knife.
📖 Example
I saved the last section of the orange for my little sister.
I kept the final piece of the orange for my younger sister.
🔗 Collocations
fruit section – a part of a fruit
newspaper section – a division of a newspaper
cross section – a view of an interior cut
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
whole (n.) – the entire thing, not divided
🌱 Derivatives
sectional (adj.) – relating to or divided into sections
📖 Cultural Story
The word 'section' derives from the Latin 'sectio', meaning 'a cutting' or 'division'. It entered English in the 16th century and is widely used in contexts like newspaper divisions, organizational units, and scientific diagrams.
Meaning 2：organizational unit (section)
section
/ˈsekʃn/
n.
A separate part or department within a larger organization, like a company or newspaper.
organizational unit
➕
/ˌɔːrɡənaɪˈzeɪʃənl ˈjuːnɪt/
n.
A distinct department or subdivision within a larger entity such as a company or institution.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
She works in the marketing section of a large technology company.
She is employed in the marketing division of a major tech firm.
🔗 Collocations
marketing section – the department handling marketing
finance section – the division managing finances
editorial section – the part of a newspaper for editorials
🔄 Synonyms
department (n.) – a division of a large organization
division (n.) – a section or part of an organization
unit (n.) – a distinct part within a system
🚫 Antonyms
whole organization (n.) – the entire entity without divisions
🌱 Derivatives
subsection (n.) – a smaller section within a larger one
Meaning 3：cross-sectional view (section)
section
/ˈsekʃn/
n.
A view or diagram of what the inside of something looks like after it has been cut through.
cross-sectional view
➕
/krɒs ˈsekʃənl vjuː/
n.
A representation or diagram showing the interior structure of an object as if cut through.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The science teacher showed us a cross section of a plant stem under the microscope.
The science instructor displayed a sliced view of a plant stem under the microscope.
🔗 Collocations
cross section – a view of an interior cut
longitudinal section – a view along the length
anatomical section – a detailed cut view in biology
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
exterior view (n.) – the outside appearance without cutting
🌱 Derivatives
sectionalize (v.) – to divide into sections
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