Characters remaining: 500/500
Translation

portion

/'pɔ:ʃn/
Academic
Friendly

The word "portion" is a noun that refers to a part or piece of something. It is often used to talk about food, but it can also have other meanings in different contexts. Let’s break it down to make it easier to understand.

Basic Meaning:
  1. Food Context: A portion is an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal. For example, when you serve dinner, you might put a portion of rice on your plate.

    • Example: "The helpings were all small, but his portion was larger than hers."
  2. Other Contexts:

    • Marriage: In some cultures, a portion can refer to money or property that a woman brings to her husband when they marry.
    • Life Circumstances: It can describe someone's overall situation in life, including events that happen to them.
    • Example: "Whatever my fortune may be, I deserve a better fate."
Usage Instructions:
  • Use "portion" when you are talking about a part of something, especially when referring to food.
  • You can also use it to discuss one's share of resources or experiences.
Advanced Usage:
  • You might encounter "portion" in more complex sentences, such as in discussions about fairness or division, like "He wanted his share in cash."
  • In literature, it can be used to describe a segment of a text or manuscript, e.g., "I read a portion of the manuscript."
Word Variants:
  • Portioned (adjective): This means divided into portions. For example, "The meal was portioned perfectly for each guest."
  • Portioning (verb): This is the act of dividing something into portions.
Different Meanings:
  • A portion can also refer to a smaller part of a larger whole, like in a project or an artifact.
    • Example: "The smaller component is hard to reach."
Synonyms:
  • Part
  • Share
  • Segment
  • Piece
  • Serving
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
  • "A fair portion": This means a reasonable or equitable amount of something.
  • "To take one's portion": This can mean to accept or receive what is due to one, whether it is good or bad.
Conclusion:

In summary, "portion" is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts.

Noun
  1. an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
    • the helpings were all small
    • his portion was larger than hers
    • there's enough for two servings each
  2. money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
  3. your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
    • whatever my fortune may be
    • deserved a better fate
    • has a happy lot
    • the luck of the Irish
    • a victim of circumstances
    • success that was her portion
  4. assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group
    • he wanted his share in cash
  5. the allotment of some amount by dividing something
    • death gets more than its share of attention from theologians
  6. something less than the whole of a human artifact
    • the rear part of the house
    • glue the two parts together
  7. something determined in relation to something that includes it
    • he wanted to feel a part of something bigger than himself
    • I read a portion of the manuscript
    • the smaller component is hard to reach
    • the animal constituent of plankton
Verb
  1. give out
    • We were assigned new uniforms

Comments and discussion on the word "portion"