piece

Meaning

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, a similar counter etc. in other games.
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. (colloquial) A gun.
9. (colloquial) A toupee or wig, especially when worn by a man.
10. A slice or other quantity of bread, eaten on its own; a sandwich or light snack.
11. (colloquial) A sexual encounter; from piece of ass or piece of tail.
12. (colloquial) A shoddy or worthless object (usually applied to consumer products like vehicles or appliances).
13. (slang) A cannabis pipe.
14. 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. An individual; a person.
16. (obsolete) A castle; a fortified building.
17. 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.

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/piːs/

Etymology

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.