apart: Meaning and Definition of

a•part

1. into pieces or parts; to pieces: to take a watch apart; an old barn falling apart from decay.
2. separately in place, time, motion, etc.: New York and Tokyo are thousands of miles apart. Our birthdays are three days apart.
3. to or at one side, with respect to place, purpose, or function: to put money apart for education; to keep apart from the group out of pride.
4. separately or individually in consideration: each factor viewed apart from the others.
5. aside (used with a gerund or noun): Joking apart, what do you think?
6. aside from; in addition to; besides: Apart from other considerations, time is a factor.
7. to take a clock apart.
1. to disassemble:to take a clock apart.
2. Informal.to criticize; attack:She was taken apart for her controversial stand.
3. to subject to intense examination:He will take your feeble excuses apart.

1. having independent or unique qualities, features, or characteristics (usually used following the noun it modifies): a class apart.