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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | Vulgar Latin pettia |
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Related topics:piece1 S1 W1
[countable]
[countable]1 an amount of something that has been separated from the main part
amount
piece of He broke off a piece of bread and gave it her. Cut off a piece of wood 5 cm in length. His trousers were held up with a piece of string. Would you like a small or a large piece?
He broke off a piece of bread and gave it her.Cut off a piece of wood 5 cm in length.His trousers were held up with a piece of string.Would you like a small or a large piece? cut/divide etc something into pieces She cut the cake into four equal pieces. Chop the potato into bite-sized pieces.
She cut the cake into four equal pieces.Chop the potato into bite-sized pieces.2 one of the parts that something divides or breaks into jigsaw pieces
part
piece of a piece of broken glass Individual pieces of text can be cut and pasted to their correct position.
a piece of broken glassIndividual pieces of text can be cut and pasted to their correct position.jigsaw pieces3 a single thing of a particular type, or something that is one of several similar things
single item
piece of Pass me another piece of paper. You should eat three pieces of fruit a day. She was wearing a single piece of jewellery. You need to examine every piece of evidence first. an excellent piece of work a major piece of legislation a piece of equipment
Pass me another piece of paper.You should eat three pieces of fruit a day.She was wearing a single piece of jewellery.You need to examine every piece of evidence first.an excellent piece of worka major piece of legislationa piece of equipment4 a small amount of something that is interesting, useful, or unusual in some way
small amount
[usually singular] piece of advice/information/gossip etc Let me give you a piece of advice. We're witnessing a piece of history in the making.
Let me give you a piece of advice.We're witnessing a piece of history in the making.5 an area of land
land
piece of a piece of waste ground a dispute about a piece of land
a piece of waste grounda dispute about a piece of land6
fall to pieces
a) to become old and in bad condition : All my clothes are falling to pieces. They've let that lovely old house fall to pieces around them.
All my clothes are falling to pieces.They've let that lovely old house fall to pieces around them.b) to no longer be successful or working well : The economy is falling to pieces.
The economy is falling to pieces.7 if a person or what they do goes to pieces, they are so upset or nervous that they cannot live, work, or perform as they should : He just went to pieces after his wife died. Her performance goes to pieces when her father is watching.
go to pieces
He just went to pieces after his wife died.Her performance goes to pieces when her father is watching.8 to damage something badly by breaking it into many parts : His arm was ripped to pieces by a shark. Wear thick gloves, otherwise you'll tear your fingers to pieces.
smash/rip/tear something to pieces
His arm was ripped to pieces by a shark.Wear thick gloves, otherwise you'll tear your fingers to pieces.9 to criticize someone or their ideas very severely : Donna could tear your work to pieces, and frequently did.
pull/rip/tear somebody/something to pieces
Donna could tear your work to pieces, and frequently did.10 something that has been produced by an artist, musician, or writer The LSO will perform a much-loved concert piece.
art/music etc
AThe LSO will perform a much-loved concert piece.11 a short article in a newspaper or magazine or part of a television or radio programme that is about a particular subject
news item
TCN13 to tell someone that you are very angry with them : After the game he gave the players a piece of his mind.
give somebody a piece of your mind
informalAfter the game he gave the players a piece of his mind.14 to be very easy to do : Landing this type of aircraft is a piece of cake for an experienced pilot.
be a piece of cake
informalLanding this type of aircraft is a piece of cake for an experienced pilot.17
be (all) of a piece
a) if the things someone says or does are all of a piece, they are part of the typical behaviour of that person
b) to be the same or similar in all parts : The architecture here is all of a piece.
The architecture here is all of a piece.18
money
b) old usePEC a coin : Robert slipped two gold pieces into the man's hand.
Robert slipped two gold pieces into the man's hand.19 a small object used in a game such as chess
games
DGB20 a small gun
gun
American English informal21 used to show that you do not respect someone or something they say
be a piece of shit/crap
spoken not polite22 an offensive expression for a woman. Do not use this expression.
