piece

/ˈpēs/

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *pettia, of Gaulish origin; akin to Welsh peth thing

noun

  1. a part of a whole: such as

  2. fragment

  3. any of the individual members comprising a unit —often used in combination

pieces of broken glass

part portion piece member division section segment fragment mean something less than the whole. part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required. portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

verb

  1. to repair, renew, or complete by adding pieces : patch

  2. to join into a whole —often used with together

adverb

  1. by degrees : piecemeal