compartment
Americannoun
-
a part or space marked or partitioned off.
-
a separate room, section, etc..
a baggage compartment.
-
U.S. Railroads. a private bedroom with toilet facilities.
-
a separate aspect, function, or the like.
the compartments of the human mind.
-
Architecture. a distinct major division of a design.
-
Heraldry. a decorative base, as a grassy mound, on which the supporters of an escutcheon stand or rest.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
one of the sections into which an area, esp an enclosed space, is divided or partitioned
-
any separate part or section
a compartment of the mind
-
a small storage space; locker
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of compartment
1555–65; < Middle French compartiment < Italian compartimento. See compart, -ment
Explanation
A compartment is a space within another space, like the glove compartment in a car. Compartments are spaces, but they're not spaces that stand on their own. Rather, compartments are part of other spaces: they're subdivisions. The trunk is a compartment of a car. A pocket is a compartment of a suitcase. Closets are like compartments of rooms. One of the most common compartments is a car's glove compartment, where people throw all kinds of things. Anything that is divided into smaller spaces has compartments. The ventricles are like compartments of your heart.
Vocabulary lists containing compartment
"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 6
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Farewell To Arms
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ment
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Oleksii, a battery repairman in Compartment 4, who had lived a few blocks away in Slatyne, thought they were insane for trying.
From New York Times • Nov. 15, 2022
Compartment No. 6 Two strangers on a train bound for the Arctic Circle make a connection in this drama, which is Finland’s Oscar submission and co-Grand Prix winner at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2021
According to an FBI affidavit, he worked inside a Sensitive Compartment Information Facility in Reston, Virginia.
From BBC • Oct. 9, 2019
Shuttle Trainer Crew Compartment tours, $20-$30 in addition to museum admission.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 12, 2012
I get an extra-large portion of pea soup and am headed back to Compartment E when Boggs intercepts me.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
