fragment

1. noun

1)

meteorite fragments

Syn:

piece, bit, particle, speck; chip, shard, sliver, splinter; shaving, paring, snippet, scrap, flake, shred, wisp, morsel

2)

a fragment of conversation

Syn:

snatch, snippet, scrap, bit

2. verb

explosions caused the granite to fragment

Syn:

break up, break, break into pieces, crack open/apart, shatter, splinter, fracture; disintegrate, fall to pieces, fall apart

••

fragment, fraction, part, piece, portion, section, segment

The whole is equal to the sum of its parts — part being a general term for any of the components of a whole. But how did the whole come apart? Fragment suggests that breakage has occurred (fragments of pottery) and often refers to a brittle substance such as glass or pottery. Segment suggests that the whole has been separated along natural or pre-existing lines of division (a segment of an orange), and section suggests a substantial and clearly separate part that fits closely with other parts to form the whole (a section of a bookcase). Fraction usually suggests a less substantial but still clearly delineated part(a fraction of her income), and a portion is a part that has been allotted or assigned to someone (her portion of the program). Finally, the very frequently used piece is any part that is separate from the whole.