department

Definitions

1. noun

   A part or division of something.

   Examples

   • Each department of the machine does a different job.
   • The report is divided into several departments.
2. noun

   A person's area of skill or interest.

   Examples

   • Technical things are not his department. He is a people person.
   • Cooking is her department.
   ≈province≈specialty
3. noun

   A particular quality or area, used in phrases like in the temperature department.

   Examples

   • The restaurant is great in the dessert department.
   • The race was perfect in the weather department.
4. noun

   A main division of a government.

   Examples

   • She works for the Treasury Department.
   • He applied to the Department of Agriculture.
   ≈ministry
5. noun

   A part of a school or college for one subject.

   Examples

   • She teaches in the physics department.
   • The history department has a new teacher.
6. noun

   A region of France, like a county.

   Examples

   • France is divided into over a hundred departments.
   • Each department has its own local government.
7. noun

   A military division of a country.

   Examples

   • Troops were sent to the eastern department.
   • The Department of the Potomac was a large army area.
8. noun

   In old use, the act of leaving.

   Examples

   • The department of the guests was announced by the butler.
   • His sudden department left the office in disorder.