Parting

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted; division; separation. "The parting of the way." Ezek. xxi. 21.

2. A separation; a leave-taking. Shak. And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts. Byron.

3. A surface or line of separation where a division occurs.

4. The surface of the sand of one section of a mold where it meets that of another section.

5. The separation and determination of alloys; esp., the separation, as by acids, of gold from silver in the assay button.

6. A joint or fissure, as in a coal seam.

7. The breaking, as of a cable, by violence.

8. Lamellar separation in a crystallized mineral, due to some other cause than cleavage, as to the presence of twinning lamellæ.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

1. Serving to part; dividing; separating.

2. Given when departing; as, a parting shot; a parting salute. "Give him that parting kiss." Shak.

3. Departing. "Speed the parting guest." Pope.

4. Admitting of being parted; partible. Parting fellow, a partner. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Parting pulley. See under Pulley. -- Parting sand (Founding), dry, nonadhesive sand, sprinkled upon the partings of a mold to facilitate the separation. -- Parting strip (Arch.), in a sash window, one of the thin strips of wood let into the pulley stile to keep the sashes apart; also, the thin piece inserted in the window box to separate the weights. -- Parting tool (Mach.), a thin tool, used in turning or planing, for cutting a piece in two.