piece
Forms
- Plural
- pieces
- present (v1)
- piece
- past (v2)
- pieced
- past participle (v3)
- pieced
- present participle
- piecing
- 3rd person singular
- pieces
Definitions
1.A part of a larger whole, usually in such a form that it is able to be separated from other parts.
- I’d like another piece of pie.
- I've lost a piece of this jigsaw puzzle.
2.A single item belonging to a class of similar items.
- "Squalled at me that she owned the business and that she wouldn't take any back talk from me and that the piece wasn't for sale. What could I do?"
3.One of the figures used in playing chess, specifically a higher-value figure as distinguished from a pawn; (by extension) those with which draughts, backgammon, and other similar board games are played.
- Pawns, unlike pieces, move only in one direction: forward.
4.A coin, especially one valued at less than the principal unit of currency.
1.To assemble (something real or figurative).
- These clues allowed us to piece together the solution to the mystery.
- His adversaries […] pieced themselves together in a joint opposition against him.
2.To produce a work of graffiti more complex than a tag.(slang)
- It is often used to collect other writer's tags, and future plans for bombing and piecing.
- It is incorrect to say that toys tag and masters piece; toys just do bad tags, bad throw-ups, and bad pieces.
- “It didn't rain, so I decided to come piece with you.[…]” We never finished that piece.
3.To make, enlarge, or repair, by the addition of a piece or pieces; to patch; often with out.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #584
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English pece, peece, peice, from Old French piece, from Late Latin petia, pettia, possibly from Gaulish *pettyā, from Proto-Celtic *kʷezdis (“piece, portion, quota”).
Compare Welsh peth, Breton pez (“thing”), Irish cuid.