chapter Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
    • he read a chapter every night before falling asleep
  2. noun any distinct period in history or in a person's life
    • the industrial revolution opened a new chapter in British history
    • the divorce was an ugly chapter in their relationship
  3. noun a local branch of some fraternity or association
    • he joined the Atlanta chapter
  4. noun an ecclesiastical assembly of the monks in a monastery or even of the canons of a church
  5. noun a series of related events forming an episode
    • a chapter of disasters

WordNet

Chap"ter noun
Etymology
OF. chapitre, F. chapitre, fr. L. capitulum, dim. of caput head, the chief person or thing, the principal division of a writing, chapter. See Chief, and cf, Chapiter.
Definitions
  1. A division of a book or treatise; as, Genesis has fifty chapters.
  2. (Eccl.) (a) An assembly of monks, or of the prebends and other clergymen connected with a cathedral, conventual, or collegiate church, or of a diocese, usually presided over by the dean.(b) A community of canons or canonesses.(c) A bishop's council.(d) A business meeting of any religious community.
  3. An organized branch of some society or fraternity as of the Freemasons. Robertson.
  4. A meeting of certain organized societies or orders.
  5. A chapter house. R. Burrill.
  6. A decretal epistle. Ayliffe.
  7. A location or compartment.
    In his bosom! In what chapter of his bosom? Shak.
Chap"ter transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To divide into chapters, as a book. Fuller.
  2. To correct; to bring to book, i. e., to demand chapter and verse. Obs. Dryden.

Webster 1913