# piece

> English word · Noun · IPA /piːs/ · frequency rank #975

## Definitions
1. A part of a larger whole, usually in such a form that it is able to be separated from other parts.
2. A single item belonging to a class of similar items.
3. One of the figures used in playing chess, specifically a higher-value figure as distinguished from a pawn; (by extension) those with which draughts, backgammon, and other similar board games are played.
4. A coin, especially one valued at less than the principal unit of currency.
5. An artistic creation, such as a painting, sculpture, musical composition, literary work, etc.
6. An article published in the press.
7. An artillery gun.
8. A gun.
9. A toupee or wig, especially when worn by a man.
10. A slice or other quantity of bread, eaten on its own; a sandwich or light snack.
11. A sexual encounter; from piece of ass or piece of tail.
12. A shoddy or worthless object (usually applied to consumer products like vehicles or appliances).
13. A cannabis pipe.
14. Used to describe a pitch that has been hit but not well, usually either being caught by the opposing team or going foul. Usually used in the past tense with get.
15. An individual; a person.
16. A castle; a fortified building.
17. A pacifier; a dummy.
18. A distance.
19. A structured practice row, often used for performance evaluation.
20. An amount of work to be done at one time; a unit of piece work.
21. An ounce of a recreational drug.

## Etymology
From Middle English pece, peece, peice, from Old French piece, from Late Latin petia, pettia, possibly from Gaulish *pettyā, from Proto-Celtic *kʷezdis (“piece, portion, quota”). Compare Welsh peth, Breton pez (“thing”), Irish cuid. Compare French pièce, Portuguese peça, Spanish pieza, Italian pezza, Italian pezzo.

## Easily confused with
- **pipe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pipe)
- **pile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pile)
- **pine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pine)
- **pier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pier)
- **pike** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pike)
- **pies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pies)
- **pied** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pied)
- **piet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-piet)
- **place** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-place)
- **price** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-price)
- **pitch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pitch)
- **pinch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pinch)
- **Piers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-piers)
- **pixie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pixie)
- **piety** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-piety)
- **pique** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pique)
- **ponce** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-ponce)
- **pieces** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pieces)
- **prince** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-prince)
- **Pierre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piece-vs-pierre)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ipece`, `peice`, `picee`, `piecce`, `pieec`, `ppiece`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/piece