ˈsekʃən n. & v. --n. 1 a
part cut off or separated
from something. 2
each of
the parts
into which a
thing is divided (actually or conceptually) or
divisible or
out of which a
structure can be
fitted together. 3 a
distinct group or
subdivision of a larger
body of
people (the wind section of an orchestra). 4 a subdivision of a
book,
document,
statute, etc. 5 US a an
area of
land. b
one square mile of land. c a
particular district of a
town (residential section). 6 a subdivision of an
army platoon. 7
esp.
Surgery a
separation by
cutting. 8 Biol. a
thin slice of
tissue etc., cut off
for microscopic examination. 9 a the cutting of a
solid by or
along a plane. b the resulting
figure or the area of
this. 10 a
representation of the
internal structure of something as if cut
across along a
vertical or
horizontal plane. 11 Biol. a group, esp. a
subgenus. --v.tr. 1
arrange in or
divide into sections. 2
Brit.
cause (a person) to be compulsorily committed to a psychiatric
hospital in
accordance with a section of a
mental health act. 3 Biol. cut into thin slices for microscopic examination. øsection-mark the
sign (°) used as a
reference mark to
indicate the
start of a section of a book etc. [F section or L sectio f. secare sectcut]