portion
POR-shuhn
/ˈpɔːr.ʃən/
To divide something into shares, individual servings, or measured sections.
As a verb, portioning implies careful measurement and division to ensure fairness, consistency, or dietary control.
The story behind the word. The word 'portion' comes from the Latin 'portio,' meaning 'a share or part.' It is closely related to the Latin verb 'partire,' which means 'to divide.' Historically, it referred to the share of an estate or food inheritance given to a family member.
Word relationships
- allocate: Allocate is a formal business or political term for distributing resources, while portion is more physical and commonly used for food or tangible goods.
- divide: Dividing is a simple split, whereas portioning implies measuring out specific, controlled amounts for individual consumption.
- combine: To combine means to merge separate parts into a single, unified mass.
Commonly confused with
- proportion: A portion is a physical piece or share of something; a proportion is the mathematical relationship or ratio between two or more elements.
Word family
- portioning (noun): The act of dividing into shares.
- apportion (verb): To distribute or allocate proportionally.
Collocations
- portion out
- equal portions
- portion control
- carefully portion
Example sentences
- "Every Sunday, she would portion the cooked chicken and brown rice into individual containers for her weekly lunches." Preparing meals for the week.
- "The manager had to portion the limited budget among three competing marketing projects." Dividing resources in a business context.
Memory hook
A 'portion' is a 'part' that you 'proportion' out to people. Divide into measured shares.
When not to use
Do not use when randomly breaking something apart without measuring or aiming for equal distribution.
Fun facts
- In restaurant kitchens, 'portion control' is one of the most critical factors in maintaining profitability, often managed using specialized color-coded scoops.
Related words
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