department

Everyday

1. A department is one part of a big organisation, such as a school, company, shop or government, that deals with one kind of work: the science department, the fire department. tree →
2. A department store is a large shop with different sections selling many kinds of things. tree →
3. A particular area of activity, knowledge or interest. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday life: department stores have sections for toys, clothes and kitchenware; in the USA and Canada, the «fire department» and «police department» are emergency services (the fire brigade or fire service in the UK, Ireland, Australia). In secondary schools, teachers are grouped into departments (maths department). Hospitals have an emergency department (A&E in the UK, ER in the USA). Phrases: department store, fire department, police department, emergency department, head of department.

Examples

• The toy department is on the third floor. tree →
• Mum works in the sales department of a big company. tree →
• The fire department came quickly when the alarm went off. tree →
• We went to the emergency department when my brother broke his arm. tree →
• The science department has its own labs. tree →
• Department stores are busy before Christmas. tree →
• Gallant little Wales has no name to rank alongside these; in this department the Cymru have shown less vigour than the Gaedhel. tree →

Note

Countable: departments. Often shortened to «dept.» in writing. Spelling: de-part-ment. In US English, the government's sections are «departments» (Department of Education); in the UK they are often also «departments» or «ministries».