parting

[pahr-ting]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that parts.

2. a division or separation.

3. a place of division or separation.

4. a departure or leave-taking.

5. death.

6. something that serves to part or separate things.

7. Mineralogy.,  a fracture of a crystal along a plane determined by twinning or pressure rather than along a cleavage plane.

8. Metallurgy.,  parting line.

adjective

1. given, happening, taken, done, etc., at parting.

   a parting glance.

2. of or relating to parting, leave-taking, departure, or death.

   parting words.

3. ending or taking leave.

   the parting day.

4. dying.

5. dividing or separating.

parting

/ ˈpɑːtɪŋ /

noun

1. US, Canadian, and Austral equivalent: part. the line of scalp showing when sections of hair are combed in opposite directions

2. the act of separating or the state of being separated

3. 1. a departure or leave-taking, esp one causing a final separation

   2. ( as modifier )

      a parting embrace

4. a place or line of separation or division

5. chem a division of a crystal along a plane that is not a cleavage plane

6. a euphemism for death

adjective

1. literary,  departing

   the parting day

2. serving to divide or separate

Word History and Origins

Origin of parting¹

1250–1300; Middle English partyng (gerund). See part, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The group, known for hits including All I Want and High Hopes, said they will record a fifth and final album before parting ways.

Read more on BBC

You are, in their household, considered a “soft touch” — someone who is easily guilt-tripped and/or coerced into parting with your money.

Read more on MarketWatch

That is, until the next week, when he finds out that the eel was a parting gift to cushion the blow for workers deemed redundant by his company’s new owners.

Read more on Salon

The club feels a decision must be made by the summer, including the possibility of parting ways if the player does not sign a new deal.

Read more on BBC

Coyle replaces Malloe, a universally beloved and respected assistant who left the team last week as part of what was described as a mutual parting of the ways after the team’s disappointing start.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• breakup