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Fragment vs Portion - What's the difference?

fragment | portion |

In transitive terms the difference between fragment and portion

is that fragment is to cause to be broken into pieces while portion is to endow with a portion or inheritance.

As nouns the difference between fragment and portion

is that fragment is a part broken off; a small, detached portion; an imperfect part; as, a fragment of an ancient writing while portion is an allocated amount.

As verbs the difference between fragment and portion

is that fragment is to break apart while portion is to divide into amounts, as for allocation to specific purposes.

fragment

Noun

(en noun)
  • A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an imperfect part; as, a fragment of an ancient writing.
  • (grammar) A sentence not containing a subject or a predicate.
  • (computing)
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To break apart.
  • To cause to be broken into pieces.
  • Synonyms

    * fragmentize

    Derived terms

    * fragmentation

    portion

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An allocated amount.
  • That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a separated part of anything.
  • One's fate; lot.
  • * Bible, Luke xii. 46
  • The lord of that servant will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
  • * Keble
  • Man's portion is to die and rise again.
  • The part of an estate given or falling to a child or heir; an inheritance.
  • * Bible, Luke xv. 12
  • Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.
  • A wife's fortune; a dowry.
  • * 1613 , , V. iv. 31:
  • Commend me to her, and to piece her portion / Tender her this.

    Usage notes

    Relatively formal, compared to the more informal part or more concrete and casual piece. For example, “part of the money” (both informal) but “portion of the proceeds” (both formal).

    Synonyms

    * part * piece

    Derived terms

    * portionless * proportion

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To divide into amounts, as for allocation to specific purposes.
  • To endow with a portion or inheritance.
  • Him portioned maids, apprenticed orphans, blest. — Alexander Pope.

    Usage notes

    * Particularly used as portion out. * Relatively formal, compared to the more informal divide, divide up, or the casual divvy, divvy up.

    Synonyms

    * divide, divide up * divvy, divvy up

    Derived terms

    * portion off * portion out