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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | a part 'to the side' |
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a‧part S3 W1
1 if things are apart, they are not close to each other or touching each other Joel stood apart from the group, frowning.
not close/touching
Joel stood apart from the group, frowning.2 if something comes apart, or you take it apart, it is separated into different pieces :
in different pieces
3 if you keep things apart, you keep them separate from each other : I try to keep my work and private life as far apart as possible.
separate
I try to keep my work and private life as far apart as possible.4 if things are a particular time apart, they do not happen at the same time but have that much time between them
not at same time
5 if people are apart, they are not together in the same place, or not having a relationship with each other : The children have never been apart before. My wife and I are living apart at the moment.
people
The children have never been apart before.My wife and I are living apart at the moment.6
fall apart
a) if something falls apart, it breaks into different pieces : It just fell apart in my hands!
It just fell apart in my hands!b) if something is falling apart, it is in very bad condition : He drives around in an old car that's falling apart.
He drives around in an old car that's falling apart.c) if something falls apart, it fails completely : He lost his job and his marriage fell apart. The country's economy is in danger of falling apart.
He lost his job and his marriage fell apart.The country's economy is in danger of falling apart.7 if a marriage, family etc is torn apart, it can no longer continue because of serious difficulties : The play portrays a good marriage torn apart by external forces.
be torn apart
The play portrays a good marriage torn apart by external forces.8 if people, beliefs, or ideas are worlds or poles apart, they are completely different from each other : I realized we were still worlds apart.
be worlds/poles apart
I realized we were still worlds apart.9 if people drift or grow apart, their relationship slowly becomes less close : Lewis and his father drifted apart after he moved to New York.
grow/drift apart
Lewis and his father drifted apart after he moved to New York.10 used to say that you want to say something seriously : Joking apart, they did do quite a good job for us.
joking apart
Joking apart, they did do quite a good job for us.11 except for someone or something : The car industry apart, most industries are now seeing an improvement in their economic performance.
somebody/something apart
The car industry apart, most industries are now seeing an improvement in their economic performance.12 to make someone or something different from other people or things : Her unusual lifestyle set her apart as a child.
set somebody/something apart
Her unusual lifestyle set her apart as a child.