piece

Meaning

Noun

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.
3. One of the figures used in playing chess, specifically a higher-value figure as distinguished from a pawn; (by extension) those with which draughts, backgammon, and other similar board games are played.
4. A coin, especially one valued at less than the principal unit of currency.
5. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, musical composition, literary work, etc.
6. An article published in the press.
7. An artillery gun.
8. (US, colloquial) A gun.
9. (Canada, US, colloquial) A toupee or wig, especially when worn by a man.
10. (Ireland, Scotland, UK, US, dialectal) A slice or other quantity of bread, eaten on its own; a sandwich or light snack.
11. (US, colloquial, vulgar) A sexual encounter; from piece of ass or piece of tail.
12. (US, colloquial, mildly, vulgar) A shoddy or worthless object (usually applied to consumer products like vehicles or appliances).
13. (US, slang) A cannabis pipe.
14. (uncountable) Used to describe a pitch that has been hit but not well, usually either being caught by the opposing team or going foul. Usually used in the past tense with get.
15. (dated, derogatory, sometimes) An individual; a person.
16. (obsolete) A castle; a fortified building.
17. (US) A pacifier; a dummy.
18. (colloquial) A distance.
19. A structured practice row, often used for performance evaluation.
20. An amount of work to be done at one time; a unit of piece work.
21. (slang) An ounce of a recreational drug.

Verb

1. (transitive, usually) To assemble (something real or figurative).
2. To make, enlarge, or repair, by the addition of a piece or pieces; to patch; often with out.
3. (slang) To produce a work of graffiti more complex than a tag.
4. (dated, informal, intransitive, often, with-on) To eat small quantities of food between meals; to snack; to take small or intermittent bites at a food item.

Synonyms

bit

part

fragment

slice

portion

section

lump

chunk

scrap

patch

shred

segment

morsel

chip

strip

hunk

component

flake

cut

man

👨

share

division

penetrate

item

slab

half

assemble

side

put together

bite

block

musical composition

work

coin

🪙

slip

song

🎶

join

joint

splinter

stick

cloth

element

detail

firearm

plot

parcel

particle

composition

article

combine

Translations

morceau

Stück

1️⃣

pedazo

pièce

stuk

pezzo

pieza

Teil

partie

pedaço

peça

trozo

part

deel

parte

Pronounced as (IPA)

/piːs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: pece

Cognate with English: fit

Cognate with Icelandic: fit

Cognate with German: Fitze

Cognate with Old High German: *fitjâ

Cognate with Welsh: peth

Cognate with Breton: pez

Cognate with Irish: cuid

Cognate with French: pièce

Cognate with Portuguese: peça

Cognate with Spanish: pieza

Cognate with Italian: pezza

Cognate with Italian: pezzo

In summary

From Middle English pece, peece, peice, from Old French piece, from Late Latin petia, pettia, possibly from Gaulish *pettyā, from Proto-Celtic *kʷezdis (“piece, portion, quota”); doublet of English fit, fytte, fytt (“musical piece, chapter”), Icelandic fit (“web”), German Fitze (“skein”), from Old High German *fitjâ. Compare Welsh peth, Breton pez (“thing”), Irish cuid. Compare French pièce, Portuguese peça, Spanish pieza, Italian pezza, Italian pezzo.

Sentences

A large piece suddenly came off and fell with a loud and sharp noise .

A woman sits on a piece of art furniture .

This was a record price for a Kooning piece sold at auction .

I'll work all night , until dawn , and I'll clean every piece of crystal in your shop .