parting

[pahr-ting]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that parts.

2. a division or separation.

3. a place of division or separation.

4. a departure or leave-taking.

5. death.

6. something that serves to part or separate things.

7. Mineralogy.,  a fracture of a crystal along a plane determined by twinning or pressure rather than along a cleavage plane.

8. Metallurgy.,  parting line.

adjective

1. given, happening, taken, done, etc., at parting.

   a parting glance.

2. of or relating to parting, leave-taking, departure, or death.

   parting words.

3. ending or taking leave.

   the parting day.

4. dying.

5. dividing or separating.

parting

/ ˈpɑːtɪŋ /

noun

1. US, Canadian, and Austral equivalent: part. the line of scalp showing when sections of hair are combed in opposite directions

2. the act of separating or the state of being separated

3. 1. a departure or leave-taking, esp one causing a final separation

   2. ( as modifier )

      a parting embrace

4. a place or line of separation or division

5. chem a division of a crystal along a plane that is not a cleavage plane

6. a euphemism for death

adjective

1. literary,  departing

   the parting day

2. serving to divide or separate

Word History and Origins

Origin of parting¹

1250–1300; Middle English partyng (gerund). See part, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

When David Bowie died in 2016, his parting gift was a final album, Blackstar, shaped by his cancer diagnosis and an acceptance of mortality.

From BBC

Osaka has enjoyed an upturn of form since parting ways with coach Patrick Mouratoglou in July.

From BBC

The Dodgers got him a run — the first they’ve scored for him in two starts and 11 innings — as a parting gift thanks to a Betts’ RBI single.

From Los Angeles Times

Ghanem went missing in May 2023 shortly after parting ways with the religious group and opening a pest control company that competed with a business operated by a group leader.

From Los Angeles Times

"Fifteen women. Forty people in all," the officer concluded, and then, affably enough, he offered a parting, "good luck".

From BBC

Related Words

• breakup