portion
POR-shun
/ˈpɔːrʃn/
An amount or serving of food given to one person.
Refers to the physical size or quantity of food served in a single sitting.
The story behind the word. Originates from Latin 'portio' (a share or allotted part), related to 'pars' (part). It entered Middle English through Anglo-Norman French to describe assigned food shares in communal dining halls.
Word relationships
- serving: Serving is common household language, while portion is used in both home and professional restaurant settings.
- helping: Helping is an informal term used at home dining tables.
- whole: Whole refers to the undivided entire item rather than a single slice or share.
Commonly confused with
- proportion: Proportion refers to relative ratio or comparative balance, whereas portion refers to a served physical quantity.
Word family
- portioning (noun): The act of dividing into portions.
Collocations
- generous portion
- portion size
- single portion
- portion control
Example sentences
- "The bistro is known for serving generous portions at very reasonable prices." Dining review
Memory hook
A PORTION is YOUR PORT of the meal. Serving size on a plate.
When not to use
Do not use to describe the quality or recipe ingredients of a dish.
Fun facts
- Restaurant portion sizes in the US have increased by over 130% since the 1970s.
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