parting
nounUS /ˈpɑɹtɪŋ/ · UK /ˈpɑːtɪŋ/
Etymology By surface analysis, part + -ing.
9 senses
- 1The act of parting or dividing; division; separation.
- 2The state of being parted.
- 3A farewell, the act of departing politely.
- 4The dividing line formed by combing the hair in…
- 5The surface of the sand of one section of a mould where…
- 6The separation and determination of alloys; especially…
- 7A joint or fissure, as in a coal seam.
- 8The breaking, as of a cable, by violence.
- 9Lamellar separation in a crystallized mineral, due to…
1
The act of parting or dividing; division; separation.
2
The state of being parted.
- The parting of the way.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezekiel 21:21:
- Bridge End is the border station and the scene of many a sad parting between enterprising shoppers and their purchases—for it is a stronghold of the Customs !—and half an hour is allowed in the timetable for examination and shunting.1949 November and December, K. Longbottom, “By Goods Train to Gweedore”, in Railway Magazine, page 353:
3
A farewell, the act of departing politely.
- And there were sudden partings,such as press / The life from out young hearts.1816, Lord Byron, “Canto III”, in Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. Canto the Third, London: […] [F]or John Murray, […], →OCLC, stanza XXIV:
- But she hugged the soft, stuffed body of the Scarecrow in her arms instead of kissing his painted face, and found she was crying herself at this sorrowful parting from her loving comrades.1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, chapter 23, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC:
4
UK The dividing line formed by combing the hair in different directions.
- Margaret Thatcher’s 80s power suits were scrutinised; David Cameron’s switching of his parting was national news (Cameron later nominated his barber for an MBE); and eyebrows were raised at Theresa May’s favourite and incongruous Frida Kahlo bracelet.2019 September 13, Hannah Jane Parkinson, “Canvas of lies: what Dominic Cummings' dress sense tells us about Brexit”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
5
The surface of the sand of one section of a mould where it meets that of another section.
6
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences The separation and determination of alloys; especially, the separation, as by acids, of gold from silver in the assay button.
9
Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Mineralogy, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Lamellar separation in a crystallized mineral, due to some other cause than cleavage, as to the presence of twinning lamellae.
- Derived terms
- centre parting, parting-cup, parting gift, parting of the ways, parting phrase, parting sand, water parting