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

During the 21-minute performance, the band opened with an excerpt from Bohemian Rhapsody, before transitioning into an accelerated rendition of Radio Ga Ga, as the audience clapped in unison with Mercury.

From BBC

“Come See Me in the Good Light” features excerpts from several of Gibson’s poems and the pieces are all beautiful and meaningful.

From Salon

Throughout its episodes lurk excerpts of dialogue enumerating frustration about the state of the world that could be mistaken for modern complaints.

From Salon

TikTok will not broadcast entire episodes but excerpts, similar to what most successful podcasts already make available, some garnering several million views each time.

From Barron's

"During that sequence, we showed excerpts taken from different parts of the speech," it said.

From BBC

Related Words

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