portion

/ˈpȯr-shən/

Middle English porcioun, porcion "part allotted to a person or institution, share, section into which a thing is divided, quantity", borrowed from Anglo-French porciun, porcioun, borrowed from Latin portiōn-, portiō "ratio, proportion, part, share" (earliest in the phrase prō portiōne "in the degree proper to each, proportionately"), probably by dissimilation from *prōrtiōne, by univerbation and syncope from prō ratiōne "in proportion" (with ratiō "reckoning, calculation, proportion")

noun

  1. an individual's part or share of something: such as

  2. a share received by gift or inheritance

  3. dowry

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 divide into portions : distribute

  2. to allot a dowry to : dower

portioned out the food equally

verb

  1. to divide (something, such as food) into portions in advance

preportioning snacks to prevent overeating