student asking question

What's the main difference between a "part" and a "piece?" Or are they interchangeable?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Good question! "Part" and "piece" have a similar meaning but cannot be used interchangeably in all cases. "Piece" is a single, individual component of something else. "Part" (noun) is a section or amount of something else, which when combined with other "parts" forms the whole thing. Pieces are always parts, but parts are not always pieces. Ex: The engine is one of the most important parts of a car. Ex: A car engine is made from hundreds of pieces.

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