1
a
: the action or an instance of cutting or separating by cutting
b
: a part set off by or as if by cutting
2
: a distinct part or portion of something written (such as a chapter, law, or newspaper)
3
a
: the profile of something as it would appear if cut through by an intersecting plane
b
: the plane figure resulting from the cutting of a solid by a plane
4
: a natural subdivision of a taxonomic group
5
: a character § used as a mark for the beginning of a section and as a reference mark
6
: a piece of land one square mile in area forming especially one of the 36 subdivisions of a township
7
: a distinct part of a territorial or political area, community, or group of people
the historic section of the city
8
a
: a part that may be, is, or is viewed as separated
a board cut into sections
the northern section of the route
b
: one segment of a fruit : carpel
9
: a basic military unit usually having a special function
10
: a very thin slice (as of tissue) suitable for microscopic examination
11
a
: one of the classes formed by dividing the students taking a course
b
: one of the discussion groups into which a conference or organization is divided
12
a
: a part of a permanent railroad way under the care of a particular crew
b
: one of two or more vehicles or trains which run on the same schedule
13
: one of several component parts that may be assembled or reassembled
a bookcase in sections
14
: a division of an orchestra composed of one class of instruments
the string section
15
Synonyms
Examples of section in a Sentence
Noun
the upper section of the bridge
This section of the road is closed.
the frozen food section in the supermarket
the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn
Do you want to sit in the nonsmoking section?
The dictionary includes a section on signs and symbols.
Section 1123 of the bankruptcy code.
ads that target one section of the population
The siding comes in five-foot sections.
Verb
Peel and section the orange.
Section the chicken and marinate the parts.
She was sectioned by the judge.
Recent Examples on the Web
R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
The school moved from 11th and Catharine to its current location on South Broad Street in 1997, and the section in front of the school was named Boyz II Men Boulevard in 2017.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Cierra Cowan, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Your natural hair is sectioned into smaller parts and pressed in between two wefts of hair extensions.
—Jazmine Boutte, StyleCaster, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for section 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
Sometimes the signs of emotional abuse are not immediately apparent, but the Hotline has a comprehensive section that provides more information, examples and options for determining next steps.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
The school moved from 11th and Catharine to its current location on South Broad Street in 1997, and the section in front of the school was named Boyz II Men Boulevard in 2017.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Verb
Get this deal directly from Dyson to receive two free complimentary gifts with your purchase: a storage presentation case and a set of hair clips (including sectioning and wide clip styles).
—Cierra Cowan, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Your natural hair is sectioned into smaller parts and pressed in between two wefts of hair extensions.
—Jazmine Boutte, StyleCaster, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for section
Dictionary Entries Near section
Cite this Entry
“Section.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/section. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
section
1 of 2 noun
sec·tion
ˈsek-shən 
1
: a part cut off or separated
a section of an orange
2
: a part of a written work
the sports section of the newspaper
3
: the appearance that a thing has or would have if cut straight through
a drawing of a ship in section
4
: a part of an area, community, or group of people
the business section of town
5
: one of several parts (as of a bookcase) that may be assembled or reassembled
6
: a part of an orchestra composed of one class of instruments
the brass section
section
2 of 2 verb
sectioned; sectioning
-sh(ə-)niŋ
1
: to cut or separate into or become cut or separated into parts or sections
2
: to represent in sections (as by a drawing)
Medical Definition
section
1 of 2 noun
sec·tion
ˈsek-shən
1
: the action or an instance of cutting or separating by cutting
especially
: the action of dividing (as tissues) surgically
nerve section
abdominal section
see cesarean section
2
: a natural subdivision of a taxonomic group
3
: a very thin slice (as of tissue) suitable for microscopic examination
section
2 of 2 transitive verb
sectioned; sectioning
-sh(ə-)niŋ
1
: to divide (a body part or organ) surgically
section a nerve
2
: to cut (fixed tissue) into thin slices for microscopic examination
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