segment
This term conveys a sense of precise, often intentional division. It suggests a piece that is a distinct, functional unit of a larger whole rather than a random fragment or a broken piece. In business and sociology, it carries a clinical, analytical tone, implying that a population has been categorized based on specific shared characteristics for the purpose of strategic targeting. In biological and geometric contexts, the word describes structural boundaries that are inherent to the object's design. While it generally follows standard countability rules, it is important to note that in specialized technical fields like networking or geometry, the term is used as a precise technical unit of measurement or configuration, distinguishing it from more general terms like section or part.
Meanings
A part of something that is separate from the rest, often as a result of being divided.
"The orange was divided into several juicy segments."
A specific group of people within a larger population, often categorized by demographics or interests.
"The company is targeting the teenage segment of the market."
Examples
The first segment of the journey was the most tiring.
The company is targeting the youth segment of the market.
She peeled a segment of the orange.
The line segment connects point A to point B.
The abdomen of the ant is divided into several segments.
The network segment was configured to handle high traffic.
The software allows users to segment the customer base by age.
Collocations & Compounds
line segment
Noun collocation: a part of a line between two points
The line segment connects point A to point B.
market segment
Noun collocation: a specific group of consumers with similar needs
The company is targeting the youth market segment.
network segment
Noun collocation: a portion of a computer network isolated by a router
The network segment was configured to handle high traffic.
segment the market
Verb collocation: to divide a target population into smaller groups
The marketing team decided to segment the market by age and income.
segment the data
Verb collocation: to split a dataset into distinct categories
Researchers need to segment the data before performing the final analysis.
Phrasal Verbs
segment out
to isolate a specific part from a larger group for analysis or treatment
The marketing team decided to segment out the high-spending customers to create a loyalty program.
Idioms & Sayings
market segment
a specific group of consumers at which a product or service is aimed
The company is focusing its advertising budget on the luxury market segment.