partner

partner

I

part‧ner¹ S2 W2 AC /ˈpɑːtnə $ ˈpɑːrtnər/ noun [countable]1.  MARRIAGE ETC one of two people who are married, or who live together and have a sexual relationship ⇨ husband, wife:
    Discuss your worries with your partner.
    Only 29% of lone parents receive financial support from their former partners.
    a sexual partner
2.  BUSINESS one of the owners of a business:
    She’s a partner in a law firm.
    The senior partner has retired. ⇨ sleeping partner
3.  DANCING/GAMES ETC someone you do a particular activity with, for example dancing or playing a game against two other people:
    Clare’s my tennis partner.
    Take your partners for the next dance.
4.  COUNTRY/ORGANIZATION a country or organization that another country or organization has an agreement with:
    Nigeria is our principal trading partner in Africa.
    The group is a junior partner (=less important group) in the PLO’s governing coalition.
5. partners in crime two people who have planned and done something together, especially something that slightly annoys other people – used humorously
⇨ sparring partner

II

partner² verb [transitive]to be someone’s partner in a dance, game etc:
    I used to partner him in tennis matches.
     

THESAURUS

■ husband/wife etc
   ▪ husband/wife the man/woman you are married to: My wife’s a teacher.
   ▪ partner the person you live with and have a sexual relationship with. Partner is often used when people are not married, or when you do not know if they are married. It is also used when talking about same-sex couples: He lives with his partner Ruth and their eight-month-old son.
   ▪ fiancé/fiancée the man/woman you are engaged to: He and fiancée Wendy Hodgson will marry in July.
   ▪ divorcee a woman who is divorced: The Prince announced his intention to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.
   ▪ widow/widower a woman or man whose husband or wife has died: Imelda Marcos, the widow of the former President
   ▪ spouse formal your spouse is your husband or wife: The rule applies to spouses and children of military personnel.
   ▪ estranged wife/husband formal someone’s estranged husband or wife is one who they do not live with anymore: She is trying to get her sons back from her estranged husband.