Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Parting \Par"ting\, n.
   1. The act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted;
      division; separation. ``The parting of the way.'' --Ezek.
      xxi. 21.

   2. A separation; a leave-taking. --Shak.

            And there were sudden partings, such as press The
            life from out young hearts.           --Byron.

   3. A surface or line of separation where a division occurs.

   4. (Founding) The surface of the sand of one section of a
      mold where it meets that of another section.

   5. (Chem.) The separation and determination of alloys; esp.,
      the separation, as by acids, of gold from silver in the
      assay button.

   6. (Geol.) A joint or fissure, as in a coal seam.

   7. (Naut.) The breaking, as of a cable, by violence.

   8. (Min.) Lamellar separation in a crystallized mineral, due
      to some other cause than cleavage, as to the presence of
      twinning lamell[ae].

Parting \Par"ting\, a. [From {Part}, v.]
   1. Serving to part; dividing; separating.

   2. Given when departing; as, a parting shot; a parting
      salute. ``Give him that parting kiss.'' --Shak.

   3. Departing. ``Speed the parting guest.'' --Pope.

   4. Admitting of being parted; partible.

   {Parting fellow}, a partner. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

   {Parting pulley}. See under {Pulley}.

   {Parting sand} (Founding), dry, nonadhesive sand, sprinkled
      upon the partings of a mold to facilitate the separation.
      

   {Parting strip} (Arch.), in a sash window, one of the thin
      strips of wood let into the pulley stile to keep the
      sashes apart; also, the thin piece inserted in the window
      box to separate the weights.

   {Parting tool} (Mach.), a thin tool, used in turning or
      planing, for cutting a piece in two.

Part \Part\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Parted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Parting}.] [F. partir, L. partire, partiri, p. p. partitus,
   fr. pars, gen. partis, a part. See {Part}, n.]
   1. To divide; to separate into distinct parts; to break into
      two or more parts or pieces; to sever. ``Thou shalt part
      it in pieces.'' --Lev. ii. 6.

            There, [celestial love] parted into rainbow hues.
                                                  --Keble.

   2. To divide into shares; to divide and distribute; to allot;
      to apportion; to share.

            To part his throne, and share his heaven with thee.
                                                  --Pope.

            They parted my raiment among them.    --John xix.
                                                  24.

   3. To separate or disunite; to cause to go apart; to remove
      from contact or contiguity; to sunder.

            The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but
            death part thee and me.               --Ruth i. 17.

            While he blessed them, he was parted from them, and
            carried up into heaven.               --Luke xxiv.
                                                  51.

            The narrow seas that part The French and English.
                                                  --Shak.

   4. Hence: To hold apart; to stand between; to intervene
      betwixt, as combatants.

            The stumbling night did part our weary powers.
                                                  --Shak.

   5. To separate by a process of extraction, elimination, or
      secretion; as, to part gold from silver.

            The liver minds his own affair, . . . And parts and
            strains the vital juices.             --Prior.

   6. To leave; to quit. [Obs.]

            Since presently your souls must part your bodies.
                                                  --Shak.

   {To part a cable} (Naut.), to break it.

   {To part company}, to separate, as travelers or companions.

Source : WordNet®

parting
     adj : delivered at the moment of parting as if in flight or
           retreat; "paused to deliver a parting shot at the
           door"; "a Parthian volley of expletives from Uncle
           Billy"- Bret Harte [syn: {parthian}]
     n : the act of departing politely; "he disliked long farewells";
         "he took his leave"; "parting is such sweet sorrow" [syn:
          {farewell}, {leave}, {leave-taking}]