segment
UK[ˈseɡ.mənt]US[ˈseɡ.mənt]
n
any of the parts into which something can be divided
n
a part of a circle or sphere cut off by a line or plane
v
to divide something into separate parts
Morpheme Breakdown
seg
ment
seg
cut
ment
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'segment' entered English in the late 16th century from Latin segmentum, meaning "a piece cut off". This Latin term itself derives from the verb secare, "to cut", a root of immense productivity traceable back to the Proto-Indo-European root sek-, meaning "to cut". The core logic of the word has remained remarkably consistent: from the literal act of cutting, it evolved to denote any distinct part resulting from a division, whether physical (a segment of an orange) or conceptual (a segment of the market). The suffix '-ment' solidifies this concept into a noun form, encapsulating the result of the cutting action.
Analysis
Structure: seg (cut) + ment (noun suffix)
- seg: From Latin secare, meaning "to cut". This root appears in English words like 'section' and 'dissect'.
- ment: A suffix of Latin origin (-mentum) used to form nouns indicating an action, process, or resulting state.
Examples
The company dominates a large segment of the smartphone market.
A line segment connects two points on a curve.
Researchers will segment the data by age and location for more detailed analysis.