party1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpɑːti/

noun (plural parties)

  • 1a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment: an engagement party
  • 2a formally constituted political group that contests elections and attempts to form or take part in a government: draft the party’s election manifesto
  • a group of people taking part in a particular activity or trip: the visiting party will be asked to conform to safety procedures whilst on site
  • 3a person or people forming one side in an agreement or dispute: a contract between two parties
  • informal a person, especially one with specified characteristics: an old party has been coming in to clean

verb (parties, partying, partied)

[no object] informal
  • enjoy oneself at a party or other lively gathering, typically with drinking and music: put on your glad rags and party!

Phrases

be party (or a party) to

be involved in: he was party to some very shady deals

bring something to the party

see bring

Derivatives

partier

noun ( informal)

Origin:

Middle English (denoting a body of people united in opposition to others, also in party1 (sense 2 of the noun)): from Old French partie, based on Latin partiri 'divide into parts'. party1 (sense 1 of the noun) dates from the early 18th century