Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

piece

/piːs/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.04 in modern English

Syllables
piece
IPA
/piːs/
9
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A part of a larger whole, usually in such a form that it is able to be separated from other parts.

noun

A single item belonging to a class of similar items.

noun

One of the figures used in playing chess, specifically a higher-value figure as distinguished from a pawn; (by extension) those with which draughts, backgammon, and other similar board games are played.

noun

A coin, especially one valued at less than the principal unit of currency.

noun

An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, musical composition, literary work, etc.

noun

An article published in the press.

noun

An artillery gun.

noun

A gun.

American usage; Colloquial

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English pece, peece, peice, from Old French piece, from Late Latin pecia, petia (“broken piece, fragment; parcel of land”), of uncertain origin. Possibly ultimately from Gaulish *pettyā, from Proto-Celtic *kʷezdis (“piece, portion, quota”). Compare Welsh peth (“thing, stuff, junk”), Breton pez (“thing”), Irish cuid (“part, portion”). Compare French pièce, Portuguese peça, Spanish pieza, Italian pezza, Italian pezzo. Displaced native Middle English sticche, stucche (“piece, fragment”) from Old English styċċe (“piece, portion”), whence also English styca.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: pece, piece, pettia, *pettyā, *kʷezdis

Usage

Inflected Forms

pieces (plural) peece (alternative, obsolete) pieces (present, singular) piecing (participle, present) pieced (participle, past) pieced (past)

Derived Forms

afterpiece altarpiece apiece apieces armpiece artpiece backpiece bailpiece bedpiece broadpiece centerpiece centrepiece

Phrases

all in one piece arm-piece art piece bail-piece battle piece bits and pieces bonnet piece by the piece

Frequently Paired Words

chunk bit peace asunder broken board game piece modicum

Synonyms

component part aspect portion game piece composition musical composition musical piece musical work piece piece of music work of music

Homonyms

peace

Rhymes With

police release increase peace greece decrease lease cease luis vietnamese niece maurice

Questions

How do you pronounce piece?
The recorded pronunciation is /piːs/.
What does piece mean?
A part of a larger whole, usually in such a form that it is able to be separated from other parts.
Where does piece come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce piece

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “piece”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/piːs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “piece”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “piece” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.