Piece

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Piece, n. [OE. pece, F. pièce, LL. pecia, petia, petium, probably of Celtic origin; cf. W. peth a thing, a part, portion, a little, Armor. pez, Gael. & Ir. cuid part, share. Cf. Petty.].

•  A fragment or part of anything separated from the whole, in any manner, as by cutting, splitting, breaking, or tearing; a part; a portion; as, a piece of sugar; to break in pieces.  [1913 Webster]

  "Bring it out piece by piece."  [1913 Webster]
•  A definite portion or quantity, as of goods or work; as, a piece of broadcloth; a piece of wall paper.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any one thing conceived of as apart from other things of the same kind; an individual article; a distinct single effort of a series; a definite performance  [1913 Webster]
•  An individual; -- applied to a person as being of a certain nature or quality; often, but not always, used slightingly or in contempt.  Sir P. Sidney.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thy mother was a piece of virtue."  [1913 Webster]

  "His own spirit is as unsettled a piece as there is in all the world."  [1913 Webster]
•  One of the superior men, distinguished from a pawn.  [1913 Webster]
•  A castle; a fortified building.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

Of a piece, of the same sort, as if taken from the same whole; like; -- sometimes followed by with. Dryden. -- Piece of eight, the Spanish piaster, formerly divided into eight reals. -- To give a piece of one's mind to, to speak plainly, bluntly, or severely to (another). Thackeray. -- Piece broker, one who buys shreds and remnants of cloth to sell again. -- Piece goods, goods usually sold by pieces or fixed portions, as shirtings, calicoes, sheetings, and the like.

Piece, v. t. 

•  To make, enlarge, or repair, by the addition of a piece or pieces; to patch; as, to piece a garment; -- often with out.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To unite; to join; to combine.  Fuller.  [1913 Webster]

  "His adversaries . . . pieced themselves together in a joint opposition against him."  [1913 Webster]

Piece, v. i. 

 To unite by a coalescence of parts; to fit together; to join.  Bacon.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Piece, n. & v.
--n.
1 a (often foll. by of) one of the distinct portions forming part of or broken off from a larger object; a bit; a part (a piece of string). b each of the parts of which a set or category is composed (a five-piece band; a piece of furniture).
2 a coin of specified value (50p piece).
3 a a usu. short literary or musical composition or a picture. b a theatrical play.
4 an item, instance, or example (a piece of impudence; a piece of news).
5 a any of the objects used to make moves in board-games. b a chessman (strictly, other than a pawn).
6 a definite quantity in which a thing is sold.
7 (often foll. by of) an enclosed portion (of land etc.).
8 derog. sl. a woman.
9 US (foll. by of) sl. a financial share or investment in (has a piece of the new production).
--v.tr.
1 (usu. foll. by together) form into a whole; put together; join (finally pieced his story together).
2 (usu. foll. by out) a eke out. b form (a theory etc.) by combining parts etc.
3 (usu. foll. by up) patch.
4 join (threads) in spinning.

Idiom

break to pieces break into fragments. by the piece (paid) according to the quantity of work done. go to pieces collapse emotionally; suffer a breakdown. in one piece
1 unbroken.
2 unharmed. in pieces broken. of a piece (often foll. by with) uniform, consistent, in keeping. piece-goods fabrics, esp. Lancashire cottons, woven in standard lengths. a piece of cake see CAKE. piece of eight hist. a Spanish dollar, equivalent to
8 reals. piece of goods sl. derog. a woman. a piece of one's mind a sharp rebuke or lecture. piece of water a small lake etc. piece of work a thing made by working (cf. nasty piece of work). piece-rates a rate paid according to the amount produced. piece-work work paid for by the amount produced. say one's piece give one's opinion or make a prepared statement.
take to pieces
1 break up or dismantle.
2 criticize harshly.

Derivative

piecer n. (in sense 4 of v.).

Etymology

ME f. AF pece, OF piece f. Rmc, prob. of Gaulish orig.: cf. PEAT

THESAURUS

Piece

Grand Guignol, Nachtmusik, Passion play, Tom show, absolute music, actor, adaptation, aesthetic distance, air, air varie, aleatory, aleatory music, alike, allotment, allowance, antagonist, antihero, antimasque, arrangement, art object, article, ass, assemble, audience success, autograph, automatic, babe, baby, bait, ballet, bawling-out, beat, big end, bigger half, bishop, bit, bit part, bite, blowgun, blowpipe, bolt, bomb, brainchild, break down, breeze, bric-a-brac, broad, broadcast drama, broken, budget, budget of news, burlesque show, butt, cast, castle, causerie, chamber music, chamber orchestra, character, charade, chessman, chick, chiding, chip, chunk, cinch, classic, clearance, cliff hanger, clip, clipping, closet drama, coil, coin, colleen, collop, comedy drama, commission, compass, compose, composition, computer printout, connect, contingent, copy, crack up, creation, critical success, crown, crumb, crumble, cue, cut, cutie, cutting, dame, damoiselle, damsel, daytime serial, deal, deep space, demoiselle, depths of space, descant, design, destiny, destroyed, dialogue, discourse, discussion, disintegrate, disquisition, dissertation, distance, ditty, divergence, dividend, division, document, documentary drama, dole, doll, dollop, double eagle, doubloon, draft, drama, dramalogue, dramatic play, dramatic series, draughtsman, dressing-down, ducat, duodrama, duologue, eagle, edited version, electronic music, end, engrossment, epic theater, equal share, essay, etude, examination, exclusive, excursus, exercise, experimental theater, exposition, extent, extravaganza, failure, fair copy, farness, fat part, fate, feature, feeder, fiction, filly, final draft, finished version, firearm, first approach, first draft, five-dollar gold piece, fix, flamethrower, flimsy, flop, fraction, fragment, frail, gal, gasser, gat, gather, girl, girlie, giveaway, go to pieces, gob, gobbet, gold piece, grotesque, guinea, gun, half, half crown, half eagle, halver, handgun, happening, hard money, harmonious, harmonization, heater, heavy, heifer, hell, helping, hero, heroine, hit, hit show, holding, holograph, homily, hot number, hoyden, hunk, identical, improvisational drama, in agreement, in harmony, in keeping, in pieces, incidental music, infinity, ingenue, instrumental music, interest, introductory study, invention, jeune fille, jill, jingle, junior miss, king, kitsch, knight, lass, lassie, lead, lead role, lead-pipe cinch, leading lady, leading man, leading woman, lecture, leeway, legitimate drama, length, letter, light-years, lines, literae scriptae, literary artefact, literary production, literature, little missy, lot, lucubration, lump, mademoiselle, maid, maiden, man, manuscript, margin, masque, master, masterpiece, masterwork, matter, measure, meat, meed, melodrama, melody, member, memoir, mend, mess, mileage, minstrel show, miracle, miracle play, miss, missy, mobile, modicum, moidore, moiety, monodrama, monograph, monologue, morality, morality play, morceau, morsel, museum piece, music, music drama, musical revue, musket, mystery, mystery play, napoleon, news item, nocturne, nonfiction, note, nude, nymphet, old master, opera, opus, orchestration, original, outline, pageant, pandect, panel show, pantomime, paper, paragraph, parcel, parchment, paring, parsecs, part, particle, pasticcio, pastiche, pastoral, pastoral drama, pawn, peashooter, penscript, percentage, person, personage, perspective, piece of ass, piece of cake, piece of meat, piece of money, piece of silver, piece of virtu, piece of writing, piece together, pistol, play, playlet, poem, portion, pound sovereign, preliminary study, printed matter, printout, problem play, production, program music, prolegomenon, proportion, protagonist, psychodrama, put together, quantity, quantum, queen, quiz show, quota, radio drama, rake-off, range, rasher, ration, reach, reading matter, rebuke, recension, remnant, remoteness, repeater, report, reprimand, research paper, restore, review, revolver, revue, ricercar, rifle, rod, role, roll, roll of coins, romp, rook, rouleau, ruined, run, sample, sawed-off shotgun, schoolgirl, schoolmaid, schoolmiss, scolding, scoop, score, scrap, screed, scrip, script, scrive, scroll, second draft, section, segment, sensational play, separation, serial, serving, sex goddess, sex object, sex queen, shard, share, shatter, shattered, shaving, shiver, shooting iron, short story, shotgun, show, shred, side, similar, sitcom, situation comedy, six-gun, six-shooter, sketch, skirt, skit, slice, slip, sliver, small share, smashed, smithereen, snack, snap, snatch, snip, snippet, soap, soap opera, sociodrama, sonata, sonatina, song, soubrette, sovereign, space, span, special article, specie, specimen, spectacle, splinter, spot news, stabile, stage play, stage show, stake, statue, still life, stitch, stock, story, straight drama, straight part, stretch, stride, string orchestra, string quartet, strip, stud, study, stump, subdeb, subdebutante, subteen, subteener, supporting character, supporting role, survey, suspense drama, swatch, tableau, tableau vivant, talk show, taste, tatter, teenybopper, teleplay, television drama, television play, ten-dollar gold piece, term paper, the same, the written word, theater of cruelty, theme, theme and variations, thesis, title role, token, tomato, tomboy, tongue-lashing, total theater, tract, tractate, transcript, transcription, treatise, treatment, trio, tune, twenty-dollar gold piece, typescript, uniform, unite, variation, variety show, vaudeville, vaudeville show, vehicle, version, villain, virgin, virtu, walk-on, walking part, way, ways, wedge, wench, what for, word-of-mouth success, work, work of art, writing, young creature, young thing

ROGET THESAURUS

Piece

The Drama

N the drama, the stage, the theater, the play, film the film, movies, motion pictures, cinema, cinematography, theatricals, dramaturgy, histrionic art, buskin, sock, cothurnus, Melpomene and Thalia, Thespis, play, drama, stage play, piece, five-act play, tragedy, comedy, opera, vaudeville, comedietta, lever de rideau, interlude, afterpiece, exode, farce, divertissement, extravaganza, burletta, harlequinade, pantomime, burlesque, opera bouffe, ballet, spectacle, masque, drame comedie drame, melodrama, melodrame, comidie larmoyante, sensation drama, tragicomedy, farcical-comedy, monodrame monologue, duologue trilogy, charade, proverbs, mystery, miracle play, musical, musical comedy, western, horse opera, flick, spy film, love story, adventure film, documentary, nature film, pornographic film, smoker, skin flick, X-rated film, act, scene, tableau, induction, introduction, prologue, epilogue, libretto, performance, representation, mise en scene, stagery, jeu de theatre, acting, gesture, impersonation, stage business, gag, buffoonery, light comedy, genteel comedy, low comedy, theater, playhouse, opera house, house, music hall, amphitheater, circus, hippodrome, theater in the round, puppet show, fantoccini, marionettes, Punch and Judy, auditory, auditorium, front of the house, stalls, boxes, pit, gallery, parquet, greenroom, coulisses, flat, drop, drop scene, wing, screen, side scene, transformation scene, curtain, act drop, proscenium, stage, scene, scenery, the boards, trap, mezzanine floor, flies, floats, footlights, offstage, orchestra, theatrical costume, theatrical properties, movie studio, back lot, on location, part, role, character, dramatis personae, repertoire, actor, thespian, player, method actor, stage player, strolling player, stager, performer, mime, mimer, artists, comedian, tragedian, tragedienne, Roscius, star, movie star, star of stage and screen, superstar, idol, sex symbol, supporting actor, supporting cast, ham, hamfatter, masker, pantomimist, clown harlequin, buffo, buffoon, farceur, grimacer, pantaloon, columbine, punchinello, pulcinello, pulcinella, extra, bit- player, walk-on role, cameo appearance, mute, figurante, general utility, super, supernumerary, company, first tragedian, prima donna, protagonist, jeune premier, debutant, debutante, light comedian, genteel comedian, low comedian, walking gentleman, amoroso, heavy father, ingenue, jeune veuve, mummer, guiser, guisard, gysart, masque, mountebank, Jack Pudding, tumbler, posture master, acrobat, contortionist, ballet dancer, ballet girl, chorus singer, coryphee danseuse, property man, costumier, machinist, prompter, call boy, manager, director, stage manager, acting manager, producer, entrepreneur, impresario, backer, investor, angel, dramatic author, dramatic writer, play writer, playwright, dramatist, mimographer, dramatic, theatric, theatrical, scenic, histrionic, comic, tragic, buskined, farcical, tragicomic, melodramatic, operatic, stagy, on the stage, on the boards, on film, before the floats, before an audience, behind the scenes, fere totus mundus exercet histrionem, suit the action to the word, the word to the action, the play's the thing, to wake the soul by tender strokes of art.

Adjunct

N adjunct, addition, additament, additum, affix, appelidage, annexe, annex, augment, augmentation, increment, reinforcement, supernumerary, accessory, item, garnish, sauce, accompaniment, adjective, addendum, complement, supplement, continuation, rider, offshoot, episode, side issue, corollary, piece, flap, lappet, skirt, embroidery, trappings, cortege, tail, suffix, wing, additional, alate, alated, winged, in addition.

Part

N part, portion, dose, item, particular, aught, any, division, ward, subdivision, section, chapter, clause, count, paragraph, verse, article, passage, sector, segment, fraction, fragment, cantle, frustum, detachment, parcel, piece, lump, bit cut, cutting, chip, chunk, collop, slice, scale, lamina, small part, morsel, particle, installment, dividend, share, debris, odds and ends, oddments, detritus, excerpta, member, limb, lobe, lobule, arm, wing, scion, branch, bough, joint, link, offshoot, ramification, twig, bush, spray, sprig, runner, leaf, leaflet, stump, component part, sarmentum, compartment, department, county, fractional, fragmentary, sectional, aliquot, divided, in compartments, multifid, disconnected, partial, partly, in part, partially, piecemeal, part by part, by by installments, by snatches, by inches, by driblets, bit by bit, inch by inch, foot by foot, drop by drop, in detail, in lots.

Arms

N arm, arms, weapon, deadly weapon, armament, armaments, armature, panoply, stand of arms, armor, armory, apparatus belli, ammunition, powder, powder and shot, cartridge, ball cartridge, cartouche, fireball, villainous saltpeter, dumdum bullet, explosive, gunpowder, guncotton, mercury fulminate, picrates, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, PETN, high explosive, trinitrotoluene, TNT, dynamite, melinite, cordite, lyddite, plastic explosive, plastique, pyroxyline, sword, saber, broadsword, cutlass, falchion, scimitar, cimeter, brand, whinyard, bilbo, glaive, glave, rapier, skean, Toledo, Ferrara, tuck, claymore, adaga, baselard, Lochaber ax, skean dhu, creese, kris, dagger, dirk, banger, poniard, stiletto, stylet, dudgeon, bayonet, sword-bayonet, sword-stick, side arms, foil, blade, steel, ax, bill, pole-ax, battle-ax, gisarme, halberd, partisan, tomahawk, bowie knife, ataghan, attaghan, yataghan, yatacban, assagai, assegai, good sword, trusty sword, naked sword, cold steel, club, mace, truncheon, staff, bludgeon, cudgel, life preserver, shillelah, sprig, hand staff, quarter staff, bat, cane, stick, knuckle duster, billy, blackjack, sandbag, waddy, gun, piece, firearms, artillery, ordnance, siege train, battering train, park, battery, cannon, gun of position, heavy gun, field piece, mortar, howitzer, carronade, culverin, basilisk, falconet, jingal, swivel, pederero, bouche a feu, petard, torpedo, mitrailleur, mitrailleuse, infernal machine, smooth bore, rifled cannon, Armstrong gun, Lancaster gun, Paixhan gun, Whitworth gun, Parrott gun, Krupp gun, Gatling gun, Maxim gun, machine gun, pompom, ten pounder, small arms, musket, musketry, firelock, fowling piece, rifle, fusil, caliver, carbine, blunderbuss, musketoon, Brown Bess, matchlock, harquebuss, arquebus, haguebut, pistol, postolet, petronel, small bore, breach-loader, muzzle-loader, revolver, repeater, Minis rifle, Enfield rifle, Flobert rifle, Westley Richards rifle, Snider rifle, Martini-Henry rifle, Lee-Metford rifle, Lee-Enfield rifle, Mauser rifle, magazine rifle, needle gun, chassepot, wind gun, air gun, automatic gun, automatic pistol, escopet, escopette, gunflint, gun- lock, hackbut, shooter, shooting iron, six-shooter, shotgun, Uzzi, assault rifle, Kalashnikov, bow, crossbow, balister, catapult, sling, battering ram, gunnery, ballistics, missile, bolt, projectile, shot, ball, grape, grape shot, canister shot, bar shot, cannon shot, langrel shot, langrage shot, round shot, chain shot, balista, ballista, slung shot, trebucbet, trebucket, bullet, slug, stone, brickbat, grenade, shell, bomb, carcass, rocket, congreve, congreve rocket, shrapnel, mitraille, levin bolt, levin brand, thunderbolt, pike, lance, spear, spontoon, javelin, dart, jereed, jerid, arrow, reed, shaft, bolt, boomerang, harpoon, gaff, eelspear, oxgoad, weet-weet, wommerah, cattle prod, chemical mace, en flute, nervos belli pecuniam infinitam.

Money

N money, legal tender, money matters, money market, finance, accounts, funds, treasure, capital, stock, assets, wealth, supplies, ways and means, wherewithal, sinews of war, almighty dollar, needful, cash, mammon, dough, cabbage, money-like instruments, M, M, sum, amount, balance, balance sheet, sum total, proceeds, currency, circulating medium, specie, coin, piece, hard cash, cold cash, dollar, sterling coin, pounds shillings and pence, Ls, d, pocket, breeches pocket, purse, money in hand, cash at hand, ready money, ready cash, slug, wad wad of bills, wad of money, thick wad of bills, roll of dough, rhino, blunt, dust, mopus, tin, salt, chink, argent comptant, bottom dollar, buzzard dollar, checks, dibs, double eagle, eagle, Federal currency, fractional currency, postal currency, Federal Reserve Note, United States Note, silver certificate, gold certificate, long bit, short bit, moss, nickel, pile, pin money, quarter, red cent, roanoke, rock, seawan, seawant, thousand dollars, grand, single, one-dollar bill, two- dollar bill, five-dollar bill, fiver, fin, Lincoln, ten-dollar bill, sawbuck, twenty-dollar bill, Jackson, double sawbuck, fifty-dollar bill, hundred-dollar bill, C-note, penny, cent, Lincoln cent, indian head penny, copper, two-cent piece three-cent piece, half- dime, nickel, buffalo nickel, V nickel, dime, disme, mercury dime, quarter, two bits, half dollar, dollar, silver dollar, Eisenhower dollar, Susan B, Anthony dollar, precious metals, gold, silver, copper, bullion, ingot, nugget, petty cash, pocket money, change, small change, small coin, doit, stiver, rap, mite, farthing, sou, penny, shilling, tester, groat, guinea, rouleau, wampum, good sum, round sum, lump sum, power of money, plum, lac of rupees, major coin, crown, minor coin, monetarist, monetary theory, numismatics, chrysology, numismatist, paper money, greenback, major denomination, minor denomination, money order, postal money order, Post Office order, bank note, bond, bill, bill of exchange, order, warrant, coupon, debenture, exchequer bill, assignat, blueback, hundi, shinplaster, note, note of hand, promissory note, I O U, draft, check, cheque, back-dated check, negotiable order of withdrawal, NOW, remittance, credit, liability, drawer, drawee, obligor, obligee, moneyer, coiner, false money, bad money, base coin, flash note, slip, kite, fancy stocks, Bank of Elegance, argumentum ad crumenam, letter of credit, circulation, multiplier effect, inflation, double-digit inflation, hyperinflation, erosion of the currency, debasement of the currency, deflation, stagflation, exchange rate, rate of exchange, floating exchange rates, fixed rates, currency counter, currency exchange, bureau de change, gold-backed currency, gold standard, silver standard, bank account, savings account, checking account, money market account, NOW account, time deposit, deposit, demand deposit, super NOW account, certificate of deposit, CD, $, US$, Y, A$, Federal Reserve Bank, central bank, Federal Reserve Board, board of governors of the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, Secret Service, mint, bureau of engraving, seigniorage, counterfeit, funny money, bogus money, (falsehood), interest, interest rate, discount rate, monetary, pecuniary, crumenal, fiscal, financial, sumptuary, numismatic, numismatical, sterling, nummary, barbarus ipse placet dummodo sit dives, but the jingling of the guinea helps the hurt that, Gelt regiert die Welt, money rules the world, money makes the world go round, nervos belli pecuniam infinitam, redet Geld so schweigt die Welt, money is the mother's milk of politics, money is the root of all evil, money isn't everything, as phony as a three-dollar bill, don't take any wooden nickels.

Libertine

N libertine, voluptuary, rake, debauchee, loose fish, rip, rakehell, fast man, intrigant, gallant, seducer, fornicator, lecher, satyr, goat, whoremonger, paillard, adulterer, gay deceiver, Lothario, Don Juan, Bluebeard, chartered libertine, adulteress, advoutress, courtesan, prostitute, strumpet, harlot, whore, punk, fille de joie, woman, woman of the town, streetwalker, Cyprian, miss, piece, frail sisterhood, demirep, wench, trollop, trull, baggage, hussy, drab, bitch, jade, skit, rig, quean, mopsy, slut, minx, harridan, unfortunate, unfortunate female, unfortunate woman, woman of easy virtue, wanton, fornicatress, Jezebel, Messalina, Delilah, Thais, Phryne, Aspasia, Lais, lorette, cocotte, petite dame, grisette, demimonde, chippy, sapphist, spiritual wife, white slave, concubine, mistress, doxy, chere amie, bona roba, pimp, procurer, pander, pandar, bawd, conciliatrix, procuress, mackerel, wittol.

Painting

N painting, depicting, drawing, design, perspective, sciagraphy, skiagraphy, chiaroscuro, composition, treatment, historical painting, portrait painting, miniature painting, landscape painting, marine painting, still life, flower painting, scene painting, scenography, school, style, the grand style, high art, genre, portraiture, ornamental art, monochrome, polychrome, grisaille, pallet, palette, easel, brush, pencil, stump, black lead, charcoal, crayons, chalk, pastel, paint, watercolor, body color, oil color, oils, oil paint, varnish, priming, gouache, tempera, distemper, fresco, water glass, enamel, encaustic painting, mosaic, tapestry, photography, heliography, color photography, sun painting, graphics, computer graphics, picture, painting, piece, tableau, canvas, oil painting, fresco, cartoon, easel picture, cabinet picture, draught, draft, pencil drawing, water color drawing, etching, charcoal, pen-and-ink, sketch, outline, study, photograph, color photograph, black-and-white photograph, holograph, heliograph, daguerreotype, talbotype, calotype, heliotype, negative, positive, print, glossy print, matte print, enlargement, reduction, life-size print, instant photo, Polaroid photo, technicolor, Kodachrome, Ektachrome, Polaroid, portrait, whole length, full length, half length, kitcat, head, miniature, shade, silhouette, profile, landscape, seapiece, view, scene, prospect, panorama, diorama, still life, picture gallery, exhibit, studio, atelier, pinacotheca, painted, pictorial, graphic, picturesque, pencil, oil, in pencil, fecit, delineavit, mutum est pictura poema.