“portion” – English explanatory dictionary

noun 1. a part ○ This is only a small portion of the material we collected. ○ Our carriage was in the rear portion of the train. 2. a serving of food, usually for one person ○ The portions in that French restaurant are tiny. ○ Ask the waiter if they serve children’s portions. ■ verb □ to portion something out to share something out ○ We portioned out the money between the four of us.

n. [F., from L. portio, akin to pars, partis, a part. See Part, n.]
1. That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a separated part of anything.
2. A part considered by itself, though not actually cut off or separated from the whole. “These are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of him!” Job xxvi. 14. “Portions and parcels of the dreadful past.” Tennyson.
3. A part assigned; allotment; share; fate. “The lord of that servant … will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” Luke xii. 46. “Man’s portion is to die and rise again.” Keble.
4. The part of an estate given to a child or heir, or descending to him by law, and distributed to him in the settlement of the estate; an inheritance. “Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.” Luke xv. 12.
5. A wife’s fortune; a dowry. Shak. Syn. — Division; share; parcel; quantity; allotment; dividend. — Portion, Part. Part is generic, having a simple reference to some whole. Portion has the additional idea of such a division as bears reference to an individual, or is allotted to some object; as a portion of one’s time; a portion of Scripture.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. Portioned p. pr. & vb. n. Portioning.]
1. To separate or divide into portions or shares; to parcel; to distribute. “And portion to his tribes the wide domain.” Pope.
2. To endow with a portion or inheritance. “Him portioned maids, apprenticed orphans, blest.” Pope.