Dictionary
par•ty
Pronunciation: (pär'tē), [key]
—n., pl. -ties,
—adj., v., -tied, -ty•ing.
—
n.
1. a social gathering, as of invited guests at a private home, for conversation, refreshments, entertainment, etc.:
a cocktail party.
2. a group gathered for a special purpose or task:
a fishing party; a search party.
3. a detachment, squad, or detail of troops assigned to perform some particular mission or service.
4. a group of persons with common purposes or opinions who support one side of a dispute, question, debate, etc.
5. a group of persons with common political opinions and purposes organized for gaining political influence and governmental control and for directing government policy:
the Republican party; the Democratic party.
6. the system of taking sides on public or political questions or the like.
7. attachment or devotion to one side or faction; partisanship:
to put considerations of party first.
8. Law.
a. one of the litigants in a legal proceeding; a plaintiff or defendant in a suit.
b. a signatory to a legal instrument.
c. a person participating in or otherwise privy to a crime.
9. a person or group that participates in some action, affair, plan, etc.; participant:
He was a party to the merger deal.
10. the person under consideration; a specific individual:
Look at the party in the green velvet shorts.
11. a person or, usually, two or more persons together patronizing a restaurant, attending a social or cultural function, etc.:
The headwaiter asked how many were in our party; a party of 12 French physicists touring the labs; a party of one at the small table.
12. a person participating in a telephone conversation:
I have your party on the line.
13. any occasion or activity likened to a social party, as specified; session:
The couple in the next apartment are having their usual dish-throwing party.
14. an advantageous or pleasurable situation or combination of circumstances of some duration and often of questionable character; period of content, license, exemption, etc.:
The police broke in and suddenly the party was over for the nation's most notorious gunman.
—
adj.
1. of or pertaining to a party or faction; partisan:
party leaders.
2. of or for a social gathering:
her new party dress.
3. being shared by or pertaining to two or more persons or things.
4. Heraldry.(of an escutcheon) having the field divided into a number of parts, usually two; parted.
—
v.i. Informal.
1. to go to or give parties, esp. a series of parties.
2. to enjoy oneself thoroughly and without restraint; indulge in pleasure.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
