partner

[ pahrt-ner ]

/ ˈpɑrt nər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR partner ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor; sharer; associate.

Law.

a person associated with another or others as a principal or a contributor of capital in a business or a joint venture, usually sharing its risks and profits.
special partner.

silent partner.

a spouse; a husband or a wife.

the person with whom one cohabits in a romantic relationship: I'd like you to meet my partner, Sarah.

either of two people who dance together: my favorite partner in the waltz.

a player on the same side or team as another: My tennis partner was an excellent player.

partners, Nautical. a framework of timber round a hole in a ship's deck, to support a mast, capstan, pump, etc.

verb (used with object)

to associate as a partner or partners with.

to serve as the partner of.

Nearby words

Origin of partner

1250–1300; Middle English partener, alteration of parcener by association with part

SYNONYMS FOR partner

1 colleague, accessory, accomplice.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR partner ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formspart·ner·less, adjectivenon·part·ner, nounun·der·part·ner, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for partners

What if there were a legal dispute between the foreign investor and his or her Egyptian partners or collaborators?
Amal Clooney vs. Egypt’s Courts|Christopher Dickey|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I know that many people do not feel they possess their partners and lovers.
Owning Up to Possession’s Downside|Samantha Harvey|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Back then, when partners of stars melted into the background, it was a barnstorming stealing of the show.
Happy 20th Birthday, Liz Hurley’s Safety-Pin Dress|Tim Teeman|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
YouTube has signed up over a million partners (people who agree to run ads over their videos to make money from their content).
How Much Money Does a Band Really Make on Tour?|Jack Conte|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Women also reported initiating sex more frequently with partners who had a sense of humor.
Was 2014 the Year Science Discovered The Female Orgasm?|Samantha Allen|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But a little while ago he thrilled you, in company with his partners, the Lascalla Brothers, in a high trapeze act.
Joe Strong, the Boy Fish|Vance Barnum
Two of the partners in the firm were inaccessible to chance-visitors when he asked for them.
No Thoroughfare|Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins
There was a touch of fire to her independence, a chip on the shoulder of her pride the three partners recognized and respected.
Rimrock Trail|J. Allan Dunn
With the disappearance of the caribou the partners began setting rabbit snares to save their meat and flour.
The Whelps of the Wolf|George Marsh
He heard first of what was being done from one of the partners down at Romford.
Double Harness|Anthony Hope

British Dictionary definitions for partners (1 of 2)

partners

/ (ˈpɑːtnəz) /

pl n

nautical a wooden construction around an opening in a deck, as to support a mast

British Dictionary definitions for partners (2 of 2)

partner

/ (ˈpɑːtnə) /

noun

an ally or companiona partner in crime

a member of a partnership

one of a pair of dancers or players on the same side in a gamemy bridge partner

either member of a couple in a relationship

verb

to be or cause to be a partner (of)

Derived Formspartnerless, adjective

Word Origin for partner

C14: variant (influenced by part) of parcener

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

Word Origin and History for partners (1 of 2)

partner

1610s, transitive, "to make a partner," from partner (n.). Intransitive sense from 1961. Related: Partnered; partnering.

Word Origin and History for partners (1 of 2)

partner

c.1300, altered from parcener (late 13c.), from Old French parçonier "partner, associate; joint owner, joint heir," from parçon "partition, division. portion, share, lot," from Latin partitionem (nominative partitio) "a sharing, partition, division, distribution" (see partition (n.)). Form in English influenced by part (n.). The word also may represent Old French part tenour "part holder."

partner

noun

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of partner

Examples from the Web for partners

British Dictionary definitions for partners (1 of 2)

partners

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for partners (2 of 2)

partner

noun

verb

Word Origin for partner

Word Origin and History for partners (1 of 2)

partner

Word Origin and History for partners (1 of 2)

partner