piece

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Middle English pece, from Old French pece, from Mediaeval Latin pettia, petium, of Celtic origin, from Gaulish petsi 'thing, part' (cf. Welsh peth 'thing', Breton pez 'id.', Irish cuid 'part'), from pet 'what' (cf. Old Irish ced, Welsh peth 'what', Breton pet 'how many'). Displaced native Middle English stucche "piece" (from Old English stycce "piece"). More at stucco

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: pēs, IPA: /piːs/, SAMPA: /pi:s/

   Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -iːs

• Homophones: peace

[edit] Noun

piece (plural pieces)

1. A part of a larger whole, usually in such a form that it is able to be separated from other parts.
2. A single item belonging to a class of similar items: as, for example, a piece of machinery, a piece of software.
3. One of the small objects played in board games, eg a pawn or a draught.
4. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, musical composition, literary work, etc.
5. (slang, British) (plural) sandwiches, packed lunch.
6. (slang, US) A sexual encounter.

   I got a piece at lunchtime.

7. (slang, US) A gun.

   He's packin' a piece'!

8. An artillery gun.
9. (slang, US) A cannabis pipe.
10. (slang, US) (short for "piece of crap") a shoddy or worthless object, usually applied to consumer products like vehicles or appliances.

    Ucch, my new car is a piece!

11. (slang, US) (short for hairpiece) a toupee or wig

    Admit it, you're wearing a piece.

[edit] Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:piece

[edit] Derived terms

• piecemeal
• piece of cake
• piece of eight
• to piece together
• bits and pieces

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• chunk
• bit

[edit] Verb

to piece (third-person singular simple present pieces, present participle piecing, simple past and past participle pieced)

1. (usually with "together"): To reassemble something (real or metaphorically.)