Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Compartment has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
a space into which an area is subdivided
"The long hallway was divided into several small compartments by folding screens to create private meeting areas."
a partitioned section, chamber, or separate room within a larger enclosed area
"The luggage was neatly organized into individual compartments within the large trunk."
A room, or section, or chamber
"The train car was divided into several small compartments where passengers could sit in privacy."
In plain English: A compartment is a separate section inside something larger, like a drawer or suitcase, used to keep items organized and from getting mixed up.
"The train has separate compartments for first-class passengers and luggage."
To arrange in separate compartments.
"The librarian carefully compartmented the rare manuscripts into individual protective sleeves before placing them on the shelf."
In plain English: To compartment something means to put it into separate sections so you can deal with each part individually without them mixing together.
"The train conductor asked passengers to compartment their luggage by placing each item in its designated bin."
The word entered English in the mid-16th century via Middle French and Italian. It ultimately comes from a Late Latin phrase meaning "to divide or share," which originally referred to the act of apportioning something rather than just a physical section.