1. [n]  the act of dividing or partitioning; separation by the creation of a boundary that divides or keeps apart
2. [n]  a vertical structure that divides or separates (as a wall divides one room from another)
3. [n]  (computer science) the part of a hard disk that is dedicated to a particular operating system or application and accessed as a single unit
4. [v]  separate or apportion into sections; "partition a room off"
5. [v]  divide into parts, pieces, or sections; "The Arab peninsula was partitioned by the British"

1. \Par*ti"tion\, n. [F. partition, L. partitio. See
   {Part}, v.]
   1. The act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted;
      separation; division; distribution; as, the partition of a
      kingdom.
   
            And good from bad find no partition.  --Shak.
   
   2. That which divides or separates; that by which different
      things, or distinct parts of the same thing, are
      separated; separating boundary; dividing line or space;
      specifically, an interior wall dividing one part or
      apartment of a house, an inclosure, or the like, from
      another; as, a brick partition; lath and plaster
      partitions.
   
            No sight could pass Betwixt the nice partitions of
            the grass.                            --Dryden.
   
   3. A part divided off by walls; an apartment; a compartment.
      [R.] ``Lodged in a small partition.'' --Milton.
   
   4. (Law.) The servance of common or undivided interests,
      particularly in real estate. It may be effected by consent
      of parties, or by compulsion of law.
   
   5. (Mus.) A score.
   
   {Partition of numbers} (Math.), the resolution of integers
      into parts subject to given conditions. --Brande & C.
   
   

2. \Par*ti"tion\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Partitioned}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Partitioning}.]
   1. To divide into parts or shares; to divide and distribute;
      as, to partition an estate among various heirs.
   
   2. To divide into distinct parts by lines, walls, etc.; as,
      to partition a house.
   
            Uniform without, though severally partitioned
            within.                               --Bacon.
   
   

1. A logical section of a disk. Each partition normally has its own file system. unix tends to treat partitions as though they were separate physical entities.

2. A division of a set into subsets so that each of its elements is in exactly one subset.