partition
par·ti·tion / pärˈtishən; pər-/ • n. (esp. with reference to a country with separate areas of government) the action or state of dividing or being divided into parts: the country's partition into separate states. ∎ a structure dividing a space into two parts, esp. a light interior wall. ∎ Chem. the distribution of a solute between two immiscible or slightly miscible solvents in contact with one another, in accordance with its differing solubility in each. ∎ Comput. each of a number of portions into which some operating systems divide memory or storage.• v. [tr.] divide into parts: an agreement was reached to partition the country. ∎ divide (a room) into smaller rooms or areas by erecting partitions: the hall was partitioned to contain the noise of the computers. ∎ (partition something off) separate a part of a room from the rest by erecting a partition: partition off part of a large bedroom to create a small bathroom.DERIVATIVES: par·ti·tion·er n.par·ti·tion·ist / -ist/ n.