chapter

[ chap-ter ]

/ ˈtʃæp tər /

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See synonyms for: chapter / chapters on Thesaurus.com

noun

a main division of a book, treatise, or the like, usually bearing a number or title.

a branch, usually restricted to a given locality, of a society, organization, fraternity, etc.: the Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross.

an important portion or division of anything: The atomic bomb opened a new chapter in history.

Ecclesiastical.

an assembly of the monks in a monastery, of those in a province, or of the entire order.
a general assembly of the canons of a church.
a meeting of the elected representatives of the provinces or houses of a religious community.
the body of such canons or representatives collectively.

any general assembly.

Liturgy. a short scriptural quotation read at various parts of the office, as after the last psalm in the service of lauds, prime, tierce, etc.

Horology. any of the marks or numerals designating the hours on a dial.

verb (used with object)

to divide into or arrange in chapters.

OTHER WORDS FOR chapter

3 era, episode, period, phase.

See synonyms for chapter on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of chapter

1175–1225; Middle English chapiter, variant of chapitre<Old French <Latin capitulum little head (capit-, stem of caput head + -ulum-ule); in Late Latin: section of a book; in Medieval Latin: section read at a meeting, hence, the meeting, especially one of canons, hence, a body of canons

OTHER WORDS FROM chapter

chap·ter·al, adjectiveun·chap·ter, verb (used with object)un·chap·tered, adjective

Words nearby chapter

chappie, chaps, Chap Stick, chaptalization, chaptalize, chapter, Chapter 11, Chapter 11 bankruptcy, chapter 7, chapter and verse, chapter book

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chapter in a sentence

More than 350 faculty members statewide have signed a recent petition by the state chapter of the American Association of University Professors calling for the system or individual institutions to move to fully online instruction.
The University of Georgia’s COVID surge continues, with 1,400 cases reported this week|Lee Clifford|September 9, 2020|Fortune
The film chronicles Hilton’s life, including darker chapters that she hasn’t yet discussed during her two decades in the public eye.
Paris Hilton was the original influencer. Now a new documentary lets viewers see past the facade|ehinchliffe|September 7, 2020|Fortune
It was probably Rashida Richardson and Stephanie Coyle’s chapter.
Eight case studies on regulating biometric technology show us a path forward|Karen Hao|September 4, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police sent no signals about a pullback, the veteran officer said.
What Can Mayors Do When the Police Stop Doing Their Jobs?|by Alec MacGillis|September 3, 2020|ProPublica

That is the focus of my work in this next chapter of my life, and the work that all of us need to do, together, to finally achieve the equality we all deserve.
Melinda Gates, Ai-jen Poo, and 9 more women on what the 19th Amendment’s 100th anniversary means to them|ehinchliffe|August 18, 2020|Fortune
Enforcement of U.S Code, Title VII, Chapter 25A “Export Standards for Grapes and Plums” remains fully funded, thank goodness.
Congress’ Gift That Keeps on Giving|P. J. O’Rourke|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The thaw between Washington and Cuba finally begins to close a chapter of the Cold War.
Did The U.S.-Cuba Deal Help Drive A Rebel Ceasefire in Colombia?|Richard McColl|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And so it goes, another chapter written in the mutually abusive relationship of bad government and bad culture.
The FBI’s Bogus ISIS Bust|James Poulos|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Election Night, he beamed: “This is the beginning of a new chapter in the life of our city.”
The Ugly Truth About Cory Booker, New Jersey’s Golden Boy|Olivia Nuzzi|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Take for instance this chapter on John Coltrane from Hentoff's wonderful book, Jazz Is.
The Stacks: John Coltrane’s Mighty Musical Quest|Nat Hentoff|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is one of the most striking manifestations of the better side of child-nature and deserves a chapter to itself.
Children's Ways|James Sully
In the next chapter he gives his twelve disciples authority over demons.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
In the preceding chapter an examination has been made of the purely mechanical side of the era of machine production.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
You may read the horrible story for yourselves in the third chapter of the Second Book of Kings.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
Of the railway mania period I have spoken in a previous chapter.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow

British Dictionary definitions for chapter

chapter

/ (ˈtʃæptə) /

noun

a division of a written work, esp a narrative, usually titled or numbered

a sequence of events having a common attributea chapter of disasters

chapter of accidents

a series of misfortunes
the unforeseeable course of events

an episode or period in a life, history, etc

a numbered reference to that part of a Parliamentary session which relates to a specified Act of Parliament

a branch of some societies, clubs, etc, esp of a secret society

the collective body or a meeting of the canons of a cathedral or collegiate church or of the members of a monastic or knightly orderRelated adjective: capitular

a general assembly of some organization

chapter and verse exact authority for an action or statement

verb

(tr) to divide into chapters

Word Origin for chapter

C13: from Old French chapitre, from Latin capitulum, literally: little head, hence, section of writing, from caput head; in Medieval Latin: chapter of scripture or of a religious rule, a gathering for the reading of this, hence, assemblage of clergy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

chapter

OTHER WORDS FOR chapter

Origin of chapter

OTHER WORDS FROM chapter

Words nearby chapter

Words related to chapter

How to use chapter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chapter

Word Origin for chapter