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

“Andrew Tulloch and Thinking Machines Lab are parting ways. Andrew has decided to pursue a different path for personal reasons,” a spokeswoman for Thinking Machines Lab said in a statement.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“There’s nothing to be gained in bitter partings,” he added.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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

Related Words

• breakup