piece

Everyday

1. A piece is a part of something that has been cut, broken or divided, like a piece of cake. tree →
2. A piece is one single item of something, like a piece of paper or a piece of advice. tree →
3. A piece is one of the parts of a game or a puzzle, like a chess piece. tree →
4. A piece is a work of music, art or writing. tree →

In the lessons

a unit for counting parts: pieces of candy, pizza, gum; a cake cut into pieces; fractions: equal pieces of a whole; phrases «a piece of», «in one piece», «fall to pieces», «piece of cake» (very easy), «piece together»

Examples

• She had 30 pieces of candy. tree →
• The pizza is cut into 8 pieces. tree →
• Each friend got 3 pieces of gum. tree →
• How many pieces are left? tree →
• The puzzle has 500 pieces. tree →
• Hand me a piece of paper. tree →
• The vase fell and broke into pieces. tree →
• That test was a piece of cake! tree →
• She played a piano piece at the concert. tree →
• The detective pieced the clues together. tree →
• "Chop him into pieces," said another. tree →

Note

A counting word: «pieces of X» counts X. «cut into N pieces» makes equal parts; 1 piece of 8 is one eighth. Trap: the thing is after «of»; «pieces of candy» are candies. «Piece» sounds like «peace» (no war). Uncountable words need it: «a piece of advice», not «an advice».

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it often means the parts into which an offering is cut, or parts of the priest's clothing or the Tabernacle. In the Prophets and Writings, "in pieces" means broken or cut apart, as when Samuel cut Agag down or God breaks the mighty.

Interpretation. The laws of sacrifice carefully list how each animal was cut and laid on the altar, each step teaching reverence.

Examples

• And he shall flay the burnt-offering, and cut it into its pieces. (Torah LEV.1.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thou shalt break it in pieces, and pour oil thereon; it is a meal-offering. (Torah LEV.2.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• They made shoulder-pieces for it, joined together; at the two ends was it joined together. (Torah EXO.39.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. (Prophets 1SA.15.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• Art thou not it that hewed Rahab in pieces, that pierced the dragon? (Prophets ISA.51.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead. (Writings JOB.34.24, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

A counting word: «pieces of X» counts X. «cut into N pieces» makes equal parts; 1 piece of 8 is one eighth. Trap: the thing is after «of»; «pieces of candy» are candies. «Piece» sounds like «peace» (no war). Uncountable words need it: «a piece of advice», not «an advice».

Meaning