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nounverb

la tranche

slice

C'est une partie plate et mince coupée dans un aliment comme du pain, du jambon ou un gâteau.

Definition & meaning

The word tranche primarily refers to a slice or a thin, flat piece cut from a larger object. It is most commonly used in the following contexts:

  1. Culinary: A slice of food, such as bread, meat, or cake. For example, a slice of ham is a tranche de jambon.
  2. Groups and Categories: A segment or a bracket within a larger set. It is frequently used for age groups, known as a tranche d'âge, or tax brackets, referred to as a tranche d'imposition.
  3. Finance and Projects: A portion or an installment of a payment, a loan, or a large-scale project that is divided into several stages.
  4. Physical Edges: The edge or thickness of an object. In bookbinding, it refers to the edges of the pages or the spine of the book. It can also refer to the side of a coin.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun (la tranche). It is derived from the French verb trancher, which means to cut, to slice, or to decide.

Etymologically, it comes from the Old French "trenche," which stems from the Vulgar Latin "trinicare," meaning to cut into three pieces, though the modern meaning has generalized to any form of slicing or dividing. In English, the word "tranche" has been borrowed directly, specifically in financial and legal contexts.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • morceau: A general term for a piece or bit of something.
  • rondelle: Specifically a round slice, like those of a lemon or a cucumber.
  • part: A portion or share of a whole.
  • fraction: A mathematical or conceptual part of a whole.
  • bord: The edge or border of something.
  • section: A distinct part or section of an organization or project.

Antonyms

  • tout: The whole or everything.
  • intégralité: The entirety or the full amount.
  • totalité: The totality or the sum of all parts.

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Examples

Je prends une tranche de pain.noun

I am taking a slice of bread.

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