compartment

A separate space inside something, used to hold particular things.

• Put your keys in this compartment.
• The box has three separate compartments.
• Is there a hidden compartment in the bag?

How to use it: a compartment for something (The bag has a compartment for your laptop.)

Similar words: section

Common phrases: storage compartment, separate compartment, compartment for something

A separate room or space inside a train or another vehicle.

• Our train compartment was empty.
• Smoke came from the engine compartment.
• Six passengers shared a compartment on the night train.

Similar words: section, cabin

Common phrases: train compartment, engine compartment, sleeping compartment

One of the smaller areas into which a larger area is divided.

• Each forest compartment has a number.
• The map shows the boundaries of every compartment.
• Workers surveyed three compartments before planting began.

Similar words: section, division

Common phrases: forest compartment, numbered compartment, compartment boundary

To arrange something in separate sections.

• They plan to compartment the box.
• The designer compartmented the interior for easier storage.
• We compartmented the space into three sections.

How to use it: compartment something into sections (They compartmented the storage area into sections.)

Similar words: compartmentalize, divide, partition

Common phrases: compartment a space, compartment a box