excerpt

American  

[ek-surpt, ik-surpt, ek-surpt] / ˈɛk sɜrpt, ɪkˈsɜrpt, ˈɛk sɜrpt /

noun

1. a passage or quotation taken or selected from a book, document, film, or the like; extract.

   Synonyms:

   part, section, portion, selection

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verb (used with object)

1. to take or select (a passage) from a book, film, or the like; extract.

2. to take or select passages from (a book, film, or the like); abridge by choosing representative sections.

excerpt British  

noun

1. a part or passage taken from a book, speech, play, etc, and considered on its own; extract

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verb

1. (tr) to take (a part or passage) from a book, speech, play, etc

Other Word Forms

• excerpter noun
• excerptible adjective
• excerption noun
• excerptor noun
• unexcerpted adjective

Etymology

Origin of excerpt

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin excerptus “picked out,” past participle of excerpere “to pick out, pluck out,” from ex- ex- ¹ + -cerpere, combining form of carpere “to pluck”

Example Sentences

Travis largely keeps his own counsel except when he scrawls in his journal, excerpts from which Mr. De Niro reads in voiceover.

From The Wall Street Journal

It highlights unsettling elements, such as Letby responding "no comment" to police questions while in custody, and excerpts from her diary where dates coinciding with the babies' deaths are marked with an asterisk.

From Barron's

They spoke to youth ambassadors and charity workers, including the chief executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, and viewed a painting featuring excerpts from Anne Frank's diary.

From BBC

At trial, jurors are expected to see an array of evidence, including excerpts from internal company documents.

From BBC

Below are excerpts from the interview, edited for clarity.

From Barron's

Related Words

• extract
• fragment
• passage
• piece
• portion
• quotation
• selection