partition

partition
    n 1: a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall
         divides one room from another) [syn: {partition},
         {divider}]
    2: (computer science) the part of a hard disk that is dedicated
       to a particular operating system or application and accessed
       as a single unit
    3: (anatomy) a structure that separates areas in an organism
    4: the act of dividing or partitioning; separation by the
       creation of a boundary that divides or keeps apart [syn:
       {division}, {partition}, {partitioning}, {segmentation},
       {sectionalization}, {sectionalisation}]
    v 1: divide into parts, pieces, or sections; "The Arab peninsula
         was partitioned by the British" [syn: {partition},
         {partition off}]
    2: separate or apportion into sections; "partition a room off"
       [syn: {partition}, {zone}]
    

Partition \Par*ti"tion\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Partitioned}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Partitioning}.]
   1. To divide into parts or shares; to divide and distribute;
      as, to partition an estate among various heirs.
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   2. To divide into distinct parts by lines, walls, etc.; as,
      to partition a house.
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            Uniform without, though severally partitioned
            within.                               --Bacon.
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Partition \Par*ti"tion\, n. [F. partition, L. partitio. See
   {Part}, v.]
   1. The act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted;
      separation; division; distribution; as, the partition of a
      kingdom.
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            And good from bad find no partition.  --Shak.
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   2. That which divides or separates; that by which different
      things, or distinct parts of the same thing, are
      separated; separating boundary; dividing line or space;
      specifically, an interior wall dividing one part or
      apartment of a house, a compartment of a room, an
      inclosure, or the like, from another; as, a brick
      partition; lath and plaster partitions; cubicles with
      four-foot high partitions.
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            No sight could pass
            Betwixt the nice partitions of the grass. --Dryden.
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   3. A part divided off by walls; an apartment; a compartment.
      [R.] "Lodged in a small partition." --Milton.
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   4. (Law.) The severance of common or undivided interests,
      particularly in real estate. It may be effected by consent
      of parties, or by compulsion of law.
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   5. (Mus.) A score.
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   {Partition of numbers} (Math.), the resolution of integers
      into parts subject to given conditions. --Brande & C.
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partition

   1. <storage> A {logical} section of a {disk}.  Each partition
   normally has its own {file system}.  {Unix} tends to treat
   partitions as though they were separate physical entities.

   2. <mathematics> A division of a set into subsets so that each
   of its elements is in exactly one subset.

   (1996-12-09)
    

PARTITION, conveyancing. A deed of partition is, one by which lands held in 
joint tenancy, coparcenary, or in common, are divided into distinct 
portions, and allotted to the several parties, who take them in severalty. 
     2. In the old deeds of partition, it was merely agreed that one should 
enjoy a particular part, and the other, another part, in severalty; but it 
is now the practice for the parties mutually to convey and assure to each 
other the different estates which they are to take in severalty, under the 
partition. Cruise Dig. t. 32, c. 6, s. 15. 
    

PARTITION, ?states. The division which is made between several persons, of 
lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or of goods and chattels which belong to 
them as co-heirs or co-proprietors. The term is more technically applied to 
the division of real estate made between coparceners, tenants in common or 
joint tenants. 
     2. The act of partition ascertains and fixes what each of the co-
proprietors is entitled to have in severalty 
     3. Partition is either voluntary, or involuntary, by compulsion. 
Voluntary partition is made by the owners of the estate, and by a conveyance 
or release of that part to each other which is to be held by him in 
severalty. 
     4. Compulsory partition is made by virtue of special laws providing 
that remedy. "It is presumed," says Chancellor Kent, 4 Com. 360, "that the 
English statutes of 31 and 32 Henry VIII. have been generally reenacted and 
adopted in this country, and probably, with increased facilities for 
partition." In some states the courts of law have jurisdiction; the courts 
of equity have for a long time exercised jurisdiction in awarding partition. 
1 Johns. Ch. R. 113; 1 Johns. Ch. R. 302; 4 Randolph's R. 493; State Eq. 
Rep. S. C. 106. In Massachusetts, the statute authorizes a partition to be 
effected by petition without writ. 15 Mass. R. 155; 2 Mass. Rep. 462. In 
Pennsylvania, intestates' estates, may be divided upon petition to the 
orphans' court. By the civil code of Louisiana, art. 1214, et seq., 
partition of a succession may be made. Vide, generally, Cruise's Dig. tit. 
32, ch. 6, s. 1 5; Com. Dig. Pleader, 3 F; Id. Parcener, C; Id. vol. viii. 
Append. h.t. 16 Vin. Ab. 217; 1 Supp. to Yes. jr. 168, 171; Civ. Code of 
Louis. B. 3, t. 1, c. 8. 
     5. Courts of equity exercise jurisdiction in cases of partition on 
various grounds, in cases of such complication of titles, when no adequate 
remedy can be had at law; 17 Ves. 551; 2 Freem. 26; but even in such cases 
the remedy in equity is more complete, for equity directs conveyances to be 
made, by which the title is more secure. "Partition at law, and in equity," 
says Lord Redesdale, "are very different things. The first operates by the 
judgment of a court of law, and delivering up possession in pursuance of it, 
which concludes all the parties to it. Partition in equity proceeds upon 
conveyances to be executed by the parties; and if the parties be not 
competent to execute the conveyance, the partition cannot be effectually 
had." 2 Sch. & Lef. 371. See 1 Hill. Ab. c. 55, where may be found an 
abstract of the laws of the several states on this subject. 
    

133 Moby Thesaurus words for "partition":
      abstraction, alienation, allotment, apportion, apportioning,
      apportionment, area, barrier, bisector, booth, boundary, brattice,
      breaking up, budgeting, buffer, buffer state, bulkhead, bumper,
      carve, carve up, cell, chamber, cloison, collision mat,
      compartment, cushion, cut, cut up, cutting, cutting the pie, deal,
      detachment, diameter, diaphragm, disarticulation, disassociation,
      disburse, disconnectedness, disconnection, discontinuity,
      disengagement, disjointing, disjunction, dislocation, dispense,
      disperse, dissepiment, dissolution, distribution, district,
      disunion, divide, divide into shares, divide up, divide with,
      divider, dividing, dividing line, dividing wall, division, divorce,
      divorcement, divvy, divvy up, dole out, doling out, equator,
      fence off, fender, halfway mark, incoherence, interseptum,
      isolation, line of demarcation, luxation, mat, measure out,
      meting out, midriff, midsection, pad, panel, parcel, parcel out,
      parceling, paries, part, parting, partitioning, party wall,
      portion, portioning, property line, rationing, removal,
      repartition, room, rupture, screen, section, segment, segmentation,
      segmenting, separate, separation, separatism, separator, septulum,
      septum, set apart, share, share out, share with, sharing,
      sharing out, shock pad, slice, slice the pie, slice up, slicing,
      split, split up, split-up, splitting, stall, subdivide,
      subdivision, subtraction, wall, wall off, withdrawal, zone,
      zoning