piece

Piece is a word with multiple related meanings. As a noun, it denotes a single item that forms part of a larger whole, such as a piece of cake, a piece of furniture, or a piece of information. It can also refer to a part or fragment of something that has been separated or taken from a set. In many contexts, piece implies a discrete unit rather than the whole.

As a unit of artistic or journalistic work, piece can mean a short article, essay, or composition. In music, a piece is a complete musical work or a movement; in the performing arts, a piece can be a standalone work such as a ballet or play excerpt. In visual arts and sculpture, a piece refers to an individual work. In chess and other board games, a piece is a movable object representing a unit in play.

Other uses include slang and idiomatic expressions. “Piece” can refer to a firearm in informal speech. The phrase “piece by piece” means gradually, in steps. In manufacturing and labor, “pay by the piece” describes wages based on items produced rather than time worked.

Etymology and related terms. The word derives from Old French piece, meaning part or portion; ultimately from Latin pars, “part.” The term has produced numerous compounds and idioms, such as “piece of information,” “piece of art,” “piecemeal,” and the phrase “the right piece.”