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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

piece en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English pece, peece, peice, from Old French piece, from Late Latin pecia, petia (“broken piece, fragment; parcel of land”), of uncertain origin. Possibly ultimately from Gaulish *pettyā, from Proto-Celtic *kʷezdis (“piece, portion, quota”). Compare Welsh peth (“thing, stuff, junk”), Breton pez (“thing”), Irish cuid (“part, portion”). Compare French pièce, Portuguese peça, Spanish pieza, Italian pezza, Italian pezzo. Displaced native Middle English sticche, stucche (“piece, fragment”) from Old English styċċe (“piece, portion”), whence also English styca.

Meanings

  1. A part of a larger whole, usually in such a form that it is able to be separated from other parts.
    • I’d like another piece of pie.
    • I've lost a piece of this jigsaw puzzle.
    • Near-synonyms: aspect, portion
    • No man is an Iland, intire of it ſelfe; euery man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; […] 1624, John Donne, “17. Meditation”, in Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, pages 415–416:
  2. A single item belonging to a class of similar items.
    • "Squalled at me that she owned the business and that she wouldn't take any back talk from me and that the piece wasn't for sale. What could I do?" 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 156:
    • a piece of machinery
    • a useful piece of advice
    • [The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across. Such pits are about the size of a bacterial cell. Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria, […] 2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
    • a piece of software
  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.
    • It is not permitted to move a piece to a square occupied by a piece of the same colour. […] Consequently, in the initial position the white pieces and pawns are placed on the first and second ranks; the black pieces and pawns on the eighth and seventh ranks. 2022, “2023 Laws of Chess”, in FIDE, pages 4, 21:
    • Pawns, unlike pieces, move only in one direction: forward. 1959, Hans Kmoch, Pawn Power in Chess, section I:
  4. A coin, especially one valued at less than the principal unit of currency.
    • a sixpenny piece
  5. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, musical composition, literary work, etc.
    • period piece
    • Now, his pieces are in the collections of institutions like the Smithsonian American Art Museum and The Met, where they operate the way Frey always intended: as works of art. 2026 May 14, Hannah Martin, “Fancy Baskets”, in Architectural Digest, volume 83, number 4, page 97:
    • She played two beautiful pieces on the piano.
  6. An article published in the press.
    • No, I didn't read the piece on China's faceless masses, I was, I was checking out the lingerie ads. 1979, Woody Allen, Manhattan, spoken by Isaac Davis (Woody Allen):
    • Today's paper has an interesting piece on medical research.
  7. An artillery gun.
    • […] all our Ammunition was spent. Those of us who had Money made Slugs of it; their next Shift was to take the middle Screws out of their Guns, and charge their Pieces with them. 1743, Robert Drury, The Pleasant, and Surprizing Adventures of Mr. Robert Drury, during his Fifteen Years Captivity on the Island of Madagascar, London, page 55:
  8. (US, colloquial) A gun.
    • I wanted peace, but now my piece is clearing out the block. 2005, “Bloody War”, in Certified, performed by David Banner:
    • It was do or be done. Get or get gotten. It was self-preservation like I'd never felt before, and when Rome passed me his piece I didn't even hesitate as I raised that bitch in the air and aimed it at Vyreen. 2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 116:
    • "This is just a cover story," Clay says to O5-8, not taking his eyes off Marion. "It's a good one, but she's had it worked out in advance." "Clay, lose the piece," says the O5. Grudgingly, Clay does so. 2008–2021, qntm, “We Need To Talk About Fifty-Five”, in There Is No Antimemetics Division, →ISBN, page 9:
    • He's packin' a piece!
  9. (Canada, US, colloquial, qualifier:short for hairpiece) A toupee or wig, especially when worn by a man.
    • The announcer is wearing a new piece.
  10. (Ireland, Scotland, UK, US, dialectal) A slice or other quantity of bread, eaten on its own; a sandwich or light snack.
    • My grannie came and gived them all a piece and jam and cups of water then I was to bring them back out to the street and play a game. 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 46:
  11. (US, colloquial, vulgar) A sexual encounter; from piece of ass or piece of tail.
    • I got a piece at lunchtime.
  12. (US, colloquial, mildly, qualifier:short for piece of crap/piece of shit, vulgar) A shoddy or worthless object (usually applied to consumer products like vehicles or appliances).
    • Ugh, my new computer is such a piece. I'm taking it back to the store tomorrow.
  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.
    • he got a piece of that one; she got a piece of the ball[…]and it's going foul.
  15. (dated, derogatory, sometimes) An individual; a person.
    • If I had not been a piece of a logician before I came to him. a. 1587 (date written), Phillip Sidney [i.e., Philip Sidney], An Apologie for Poetrie. […], London: […] [James Roberts] for Henry Olney, […], published 1595, →OCLC; republished as Edward Arber, editor, An Apologie for Poetrie (English Reprints), London: [Alexander Murray & Son], 1 April 1868, →OCLC:
    • His own spirit is as unsettled a piece as there is in all the world. 1825, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Aid to Reflection:
    • Thy mother was a piece of virtue. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
  16. (obsolete) A castle; a fortified building.
    • Then enteryng into league with Philip the French king, he receyued againe all the holdes and peeces which his father had loſt a little before, […] 1569, Richard Grafton, “The Seuenth Age, and Seuenth Part of this Chronicle”, in A Chronicle at Large and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande […], volume I, London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye, →OCLC, page 83:
    • the ranſack of that peece 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XIV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
  17. (US) A pacifier; a dummy.
  18. (colloquial) A distance or amount.
    • a far piece
    • I never did believe that he was in it. He's a piece too mean-spirited to have the nerve. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
    • located a fair piece away from their camp
  19. A structured practice row, often used for performance evaluation.
    • That last piece was torture.
    • At practice we rowed four 5,000 meter pieces.
  20. An amount of work to be done at one time; a unit of piece work.
  21. (slang) An ounce of a recreational drug.
    • In fact, that was back during the era when you could buy a piece of heroin, an ounce of heroin, for $500 and cut it three times for a 3-to-1 cut on it and the dope would still be good. 2017, Matt Meyer, Déqui Kioni-Sadiki, Sekou Odinga, Look for Me in the Whirlwind:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
peece alternative, obsolete lexicographic
pieces Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

testpiece · say one's piece · dime piece · piece of garbage · counterpiece · bits and pieces · playing piece · piece goods · in one piece · three-piece suite · two-piece sleeve · piece of shite · chess piece · pole piece · touch piece · T-piece · piece rate · piece work · ringpiece · earpiece · three-piece suit · lace piece · pieceless · chimney-piece · siege piece · handpiece · mainpiece · franc-piece · altarpiece · fieldpiece · thought piece · bonnet piece · mood piece · of a piece · chimney piece · conversation piece · broadpiece · apieces · character piece · fairy piece · arm-piece · furpiece · piece of shit · by the piece · two-piece · piece of piss · one-piece · showpiece · wall piece · differential piece work · piece of trash · sea piece · piece of ground · heelpiece · piece of meat · timepiece · piece of the pie · set-piece · journeyman's piece · piece of junk · you want a piece of me · piece of eight · trend piece · frontipiece · summer-piece · piece of ass · bail-piece · minor piece · bedpiece · crown piece · fashioning piece · piecewise · codpiece · time-piece · piece of paper · piece of crap · piece of clothing · piece picking · give someone a piece of one's mind · cornerpiece · headpiece · piece by piece · piece system · piece of rubbish · namepiece · money piece · vent-piece · art piece · stringpiece · piecer · piece of homework · return piece · piece to camera · cream puff piece · chestpiece · reason piece · piecework · piece of poop · doating-piece · toepiece · valley piece · bailpiece · museum piece · piece and crisps · hold one's piece · haute piece · pocket piece · conepiece · nightpiece · piece-bag · nosepiece · fourpiece · dome-piece · raising piece · side piece · piece of someone · legpiece · eye-piece · piece bag · piece of cake · ten piece · piece of the puzzle · piece of goods · depiece · hit-piece · piece of pork · piece-dye · tailpiece · fashion piece · armpiece · forepiece · piece of one · party piece · pieceworker · centerpiece · major piece · three-piece · piece of crumpet · cheekpiece · piece of work · companion piece · neckpiece · finger-piece · centrepiece · eyepiece · mantel-piece · face piece · Jesus piece · battle piece · solepiece · of a piece with · mistresspiece · ghost piece · flowerpiece · missing piece · piece of the action · piece de resistance · midpiece · straining piece · tosspiece · top piece · piece of furniture · nose piece · go to pieces · modesty piece · shoulder piece · five-piece door · chimneypiece · crosspiece · masterpiece · sidepiece · haute-piece · chess-piece · H-piece · seapiece · piece of luck · thumbpiece · all in one piece · backpiece · Staunton piece · cane piece · crownpiece · mailpiece · piecemeal · masking piece · puff piece · kneepiece · piece table · sea-piece · parcel · end piece · volant piece · piece broker · heavy piece · workpiece · piecen · set piece · chinpiece · fowling piece · how long is a piece of string · mouthpiece · multipiece · piece of tail · afterpiece · creampuff piece · interpiece · apiece · think piece · mantelpiece · artpiece · piece up · hit piece · polepiece · frost piece · slam piece · dome piece · objective piece · court piece · master-piece · piece of art · toppiece · ridgepiece · pitching piece · period piece · mourning piece · gold piece · playpiece · hairpiece · opinion piece

Descendants

pees · pisi · pìos · píosa · ピース · biisi

Hypernyms

part

Hyponyms

passage · drop · extract · splinter · cotchel · sliver · excerpt · smithers · smithereens · shivereens · debris · shard

Relateds

chunk · bit · modicum · broken · board game piece · peace · asunder

Synonyms

pippy · binky · piecemeal · piece · piece · fleak · clip · piece · scraplet · bo-bo · musical work · composition · cutting · bit · paci · mammock · portion · bink · lump · dummy · chunk · piece of music · crumb · work of music · snippet · soother · component · musical piece · hunk · fragment · aspect · slice · nookie · ort · tranche · dodie · flake · steck · game piece · scrap · musical composition · portion · snead · crumbling · chip · part · comforter

Translations (332)

sh dȅo (part of a larger whole) · fi kappale (part of a larger whole) · az tikə (part of a larger whole) · bg част (part of a larger whole) · sv pjäs (artillery gun) · ka ცალი (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · ky кесек (part of a larger whole) · ka ნატეხი (part of a larger whole) · da mønt (small coin) · be фігу́ра (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · nl stuk (part of a larger whole) · mt biċċa (part of a larger whole) · fi ase (slang: gun) · arz حتة (part of a larger whole) · pt parte (part of a larger whole) · ast pedazu (part of a larger whole) · pl pionek (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · te ముక్క (part of a larger whole) · ur کھَنْڈ (part of a larger whole) · af stuk (part of a larger whole) · bn টুকরা (part of a larger whole) · gd pìos (part of a larger whole) · tg лӯнда (part of a larger whole) · cmn 作品 (artistic creation) · la fragmentum (part of a larger whole) · es retazo (part of a larger whole) · th ชิ้น (part of a larger whole) · vi quân (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · fi osa (part of a larger whole) · sw gawo (part of a larger whole) · acw قِطْعَة (part of a larger whole) · fi lantti (small coin) · fi romu (shoddy or worthless object) · bg пие́са (artistic creation) · pl sztuka (artistic creation) · cmn(part of a larger whole) · lmo pezz (part of a larger whole) · da brik (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · fi urakka (unit of piece work) · be твор (artistic creation) · hi मुद्रा (small coin) · pl część (part of a larger whole) · tk bölek (part of a larger whole) · be кава́лак (part of a larger whole) · eo peco (part of a larger whole) · nrf morcé (part of a larger whole) · la frustum (part of a larger whole) · ga dréacht (artistic creation) · fi kappale (artistic creation) · it moneta (small coin) · az hissə (part of a larger whole) · hu -rész (part of a larger whole) · my အစ (part of a larger whole) · ca tros (part of a larger whole) · fi juttu (article published in the press) · be шту́ка (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · fa-ira قِطْعِه (part of a larger whole) · fi upseeri (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · pl moneta (small coin) · lo ຕ່ອນ (part of a larger whole) · ary طرف (part of a larger whole) · pox kǫs (part of a larger whole) · ru статья́ (article published in the press) · pl sztuka (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · hi भाग (part of a larger whole) · ko 피스 (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · it porzione (part of a larger whole) · uk фігу́ра (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · cs kámen (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · lmo péss (part of a larger whole) · ru пье́са (artistic creation) · sv nyp (slang: sexual encounter) · ps ټوټه (part of a larger whole) · es pieza (artistic creation) · sh ȕtoka /у̏тока (slang: gun) · uz boʻlak (part of a larger whole) · sa खण्ड (part of a larger whole) · mn зохиол (artistic creation) · hi भाग (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · swb turuturu (small coin) · tl tugtugin (artistic creation) · oc pèça (part of a larger whole) · bg фи́гура (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · sk kúsok (part of a larger whole) · ja(chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · fi voikku (sandwiches, light snack) · de Stück (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · yi שטיק (part of a larger whole) · ga giota (part of a larger whole) · mk парче (part of a larger whole) · fi teos (artistic creation) · he חֵלֶק (part of a larger whole) · fr flingue (slang: gun) · fi palanen (part of a larger whole) · acw شَقْفَة (part of a larger whole) · bho टुकड़ा (part of a larger whole) · fi biisi (artistic creation) · fo petti (part of a larger whole) · sh párče (part of a larger whole) · pt peça (part of a larger whole) · my အပိုင်းအစ (part of a larger whole) · ar قِطْعَة (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · pl kawałek (part of a larger whole) · az parça (part of a larger whole) · fi snaga (slang: cannabis pipe) · ba өлөш (part of a larger whole) · es pieza (part of a larger whole) · vi con (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · mn хэрчим (part of a larger whole) · cs figura (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · cs kus (part of a larger whole) · fi pala (part of a larger whole) · sl del (part of a larger whole) · ang styċċe (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · nn stykke (part of a larger whole) · ja 一片 (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · bzj pees (part of a larger whole) · hu váltóegység (small coin) · ro bucată (part of a larger whole) · de Stück (part of a larger whole) · bg къс (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · da stykke (part of a larger whole) · hu darab (part of a larger whole) · kmr parçe (part of a larger whole) · mk дел (part of a larger whole) · sv bit (part of a larger whole) · es trozo (part of a larger whole) · hu darab (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · da stykke (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · hi रचना (artistic creation) · kk бөлік (part of a larger whole) · uk кава́лок (part of a larger whole) · da møntstykke (small coin) · eu zati (part of a larger whole) · nb stykke (part of a larger whole) · uk п'є́са (artistic creation) · uk шту́ка (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · is stykki (part of a larger whole) · kk кесек (part of a larger whole) · it pezzo (artistic creation) · tg тикка (part of a larger whole) · fa-ira پارْچِه (part of a larger whole) · ru произведе́ние (artistic creation) · lt gabalas (part of a larger whole) · bg моне́та (small coin) · ru моне́та (small coin) · be п'е́са (artistic creation) · hi टुकड़ा (part of a larger whole) · hi कृति (artistic creation) · es pedazo (part of a larger whole) · sv pjäs (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · ga píosa (artistic creation) · sk kus (part of a larger whole) · pt peça (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · gd pìos (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · qu p'aki (part of a larger whole) · fo stykki (part of a larger whole) · fi zilu (slang: cannabis pipe) · cmn 部分 (part of a larger whole) · be манэ́та (small coin) · sh па́рче (part of a larger whole) · ajp قِطْعَة (part of a larger whole) · la mica (part of a larger whole) · da stykke (artistic creation) · mt imbarazz (shoddy or worthless object) · pl element (part of a larger whole) · hy կտոր (part of a larger whole) · ja 部分 (part of a larger whole) · ja 切り身 (part of a larger whole) · pl utwór (artistic creation) · rif awezwiz (part of a larger whole) · ko(part of a larger whole) · gur zõrga (part of a larger whole) · rom kotor (part of a larger whole) · hy խաղաքար (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · gd criomag (part of a larger whole) · sw sarafu (small coin) · ja 作品 (artistic creation) · it parte (part of a larger whole) · az dənə (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · pl dzieło (artistic creation) · cy darn (part of a larger whole) · lo ຮູບສິລປະ (part of a larger whole) · fa-ira تِکِّه (part of a larger whole) · tpi hap (part of a larger whole) · ccc naspejka (part of a larger whole) · alt кезек (part of a larger whole) · es pieza de artillería (artillery gun) · la pars (part of a larger whole) · nl deel (part of a larger whole) · fr pièce (artistic creation) · ky үзүм (part of a larger whole) · vi mẩu (part of a larger whole) · fi kapu (slang: cannabis pipe) · be ча́стка (part of a larger whole) · fr morceau (part of a larger whole) · uz parcha (part of a larger whole) · tyz bưởng (part of a larger whole) · tyz ăn (part of a larger whole) · vi mảnh (part of a larger whole) · th อัน (part of a larger whole) · sv stycke (part of a larger whole) · fi tykki (slang: gun) · lo ປ່ຽງ (part of a larger whole) · ka ნაწილი (part of a larger whole) · bg произведе́ние (artistic creation) · uk кусо́к (part of a larger whole) · cmn 片段 (part of a larger whole) · ru фигу́ра (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · gd mìr (part of a larger whole) · be кусо́к (part of a larger whole) · kk парша (part of a larger whole) · sw kipande (part of a larger whole) · fi pikkukolikko (small coin) · ota پارچه (part of a larger whole) · fi pano (slang: sexual encounter) · de Offizier (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · ko 기물 (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · es pieza (small coin) · bn কেতা (part of a larger whole) · de Stück (artistic creation) · sq copë (part of a larger whole) · yue 塊 /块 (part of a larger whole) · hi खंड (part of a larger whole) · mn зүсэм (part of a larger whole) · ar قِطْعَة (part of a larger whole) · mi wāhanga (part of a larger whole) · pt peça (artistic creation) · ur ٹُکْڑا (part of a larger whole) · hu rész (part of a larger whole) · ru фи́шка (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · yue(part of a larger whole) · ru шту́ка (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · pl praca (artistic creation) · be мане́та (small coin) · ka ნაჭერი (part of a larger whole) · he אֶבֶן (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · ms sekeping (part of a larger whole) · tg порча (part of a larger whole) · hi मुद्रा (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · bn তরফ (part of a larger whole) · fr flingue (artillery gun) · ga píosa (part of a larger whole) · ga saothar (artistic creation) · oc tròç (part of a larger whole) · sl kos (part of a larger whole) · fi tykki (artillery gun) · ja 一片 (part of a larger whole) · uk части́на (part of a larger whole) · ru кусо́к (part of a larger whole) · uk шмато́к (part of a larger whole) · uk моне́та (small coin) · de Spielfigur (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · vi miếng (part of a larger whole) · uk шмат (part of a larger whole) · it pezzo (part of a larger whole) · hu darab (artistic creation) · he פיסה (part of a larger whole) · sh ко̀ма̄д (part of a larger whole) · my အပိုင်း (part of a larger whole) · cmn 棋子 (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · fi voileipä (sandwiches, light snack) · de Beitrag (article published in the press) · ajp شَقْفَة (part of a larger whole) · mn жүжиг (artistic creation) · ckb پارچە (part of a larger whole) · sh kòmād (part of a larger whole) · tt кисәк (part of a larger whole) · uk фі́шка (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · fi tapaus (sometimes derogatory: individual, person) · lt dalis (part of a larger whole) · ug پارچە (part of a larger whole) · ta துண்டு (part of a larger whole) · is stykki (artistic creation) · it pezzo (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · ko 조각 (part of a larger whole) · uk твір (artistic creation) · gl peza (part of a larger whole) · hu műalkotás (artistic creation) · pt pedaço (part of a larger whole) · nl stuk (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · fr pièce (part of a larger whole) · fr pièce (small coin) · it brano (artistic creation) · hi हिस्सा (part of a larger whole) · ar قِطْعَة (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · is hluti (part of a larger whole) · el κομμάτι (part of a larger whole) · ky бөлүк (part of a larger whole) · ht moso (part of a larger whole) · pt peça (artillery gun) · sh де̏о (part of a larger whole) · ga boim (part of a larger whole) · sv stycke (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · ca peça (part of a larger whole) · sv stycke (artistic creation) · ko 부분 (part of a larger whole) · tr parça (part of a larger whole) · hy մաս (part of a larger whole) · gd pìos (sandwiches, light snack) · cmn 塊 /块 (part of a larger whole) · fr bout (part of a larger whole) · yi שלום (slang: gun) · pt peça (small coin) · sv puffra (slang: gun) · mn нөхөөс (part of a larger whole) · kpv тор (part of a larger whole) · az daş (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · ja 一切れ (part of a larger whole) · ja ピース (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · fi nappula (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · da del (part of a larger whole) · km ដុំ (part of a larger whole) · es ficha (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · sv stycke (artillery gun) · bg ста́тия (article published in the press) · ko 작품 (artistic creation) · es pieza (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · fr part (part of a larger whole) · pt parte (single item belonging to a class of similar items) · be фі́шка (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · az fiqur (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · nl onderdeel (part of a larger whole) · alt бӧлӱк (part of a larger whole) · ang styċċe (part of a larger whole) · lld tòch (part of a larger whole) · bg парче́ (part of a larger whole) · gd bìdeag (part of a larger whole) · fa-ira مُهْرِه (chess: figure other than pawn; similar counter in other games) · ru часть (part of a larger whole) · is verk (artistic creation) · lv gabals (part of a larger whole)

wikidata: Q152596 · wikidata: Q3449901

piece en · VERB

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English pece, peece, peice, from Old French piece, from Late Latin pecia, petia (“broken piece, fragment; parcel of land”), of uncertain origin. Possibly ultimately from Gaulish *pettyā, from Proto-Celtic *kʷezdis (“piece, portion, quota”). Compare Welsh peth (“thing, stuff, junk”), Breton pez (“thing”), Irish cuid (“part, portion”). Compare French pièce, Portuguese peça, Spanish pieza, Italian pezza, Italian pezzo. Displaced native Middle English sticche, stucche (“piece, fragment”) from Old English styċċe (“piece, portion”), whence also English styca.

Meanings

  1. (transitive, usually, with together) To assemble (something real or figurative).
    • These clues allowed us to piece together the solution to the mystery.
    • His adversaries […] pieced themselves together in a joint opposition against him. 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI):
  2. To make, enlarge, or repair, by the addition of a piece or pieces; to patch; often with out.
    • You have broke it, cousin: and , by my life , you shall make it whole again ; you shall piece it out with a piece of your performance c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
    • to piece a garment
  3. (slang) To produce a work of graffiti more complex than a tag.
    • It is often used to collect other writer's tags, and future plans for bombing and piecing. 2009, Scape Martinez, GRAFF: The Art & Technique of Graffiti, page 124:
    • It is incorrect to say that toys tag and masters piece; toys just do bad tags, bad throw-ups, and bad pieces. 2009, Gregory J. Snyder, Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York's Urban Underground, page 40:
    • “It didn't rain, so I decided to come piece with you.[…]” We never finished that piece. 1994, William Upski Wimsatt, Bomb the Suburbs, revised second edition, Chicago: The Subway and Elevated Press Company, →ISBN, page 7:
  4. (dated, informal, intransitive, often, qualifier:chiefly North Midland US, with-on) To eat small quantities of food between meals; to snack; to take small or intermittent bites at a food item.
    • There he was, piecing on the ham. 1941, Eudora Welty, “Why I Live at the P.O.”, in A Curtain of Green, page 104:
    • “Piecing” between meals often means eating sweet crackers, candy, or sweet beverages at almost any hour. These taste good but spoil the appetite for more desirable foods. What's eaten between meals should make a real contribution to daily food intake: fruit, or tomato juice, or a small glass of milk, a small peanut butter or cheese sandwich and the like are good choices. And a mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick-up does not interfere with appetite as irregular nibbling or piecing does. 1956, United States Children's Bureau publication, Your Child from One to Six, US Government Publishing Office, page 46:
    • Do not piece between meals. c. 1950, Kansas State Board of Health, Division of Maternal and Child Health Nutrition Service publication, "Proper food before the baby comes", State Library of Kansas, page 2:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pieced Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pieced Tense=Past lexicographic
pieces Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
peece alternative, obsolete lexicographic
piecing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Deriveds

piece out (Terms derived from piece (verb)) · unpiece (Terms derived from piece (verb)) · repiece (Terms derived from piece (verb)) · piece together (Terms derived from piece (verb))

Synonyms

nosh · eat · fret · have · nibble

Translations (10)

cs seskládat (to create or construct by assembling parts) · cs poskládat (to create or construct by assembling parts) · cs sestavit (to create or construct by assembling parts) · es reconstruir (to create or construct by assembling parts) · cs skládat (to create or construct by assembling parts) · fr assembler (to create or construct by assembling parts) · cs spojit (to create or construct by assembling parts) · es montar (to create or construct by assembling parts) · fr monter (to create or construct by assembling parts) · cs složit (to create or construct by assembling parts)