name part

8.3

The role of the character whose name is in the title

noun

Jargon

: papel principal

Playing the name part of Hamlet is a great honor for any performer.

Examples

After years of playing supporting roles, she finally got the name part in the new production.
The audition for the name part attracted many aspiring actors.
The name part is vital.
Who plays the name part in this production?
After years of playing supporting roles, she finally got the name part in the new production.
Playing the name part of Hamlet is a great honor for any performer.
The audition for the name part attracted many aspiring actors.

Synonyms

part

vsname part

∞ 1.0

A person's role in a group or activity

is limited to stage roles where the character's name appears in the title

character

vsname part

∞ 3.2

A person in a story, play, or film

is that person only when their name is used as the work title

role

vsname part

534 1.0

A part an actor plays in a play or film

is this actor part only when the character is named in the title

title role

vsname part

7 5.4

The main character a play, film, or show is named after

is the role specifically of the character whose name appears in the title

theatrical role

vsname part

1 3.9

A character an actor plays in a play or stage show

is specifically the character whose name appears in the work's title

Antonyms

minor role

3 3.5

A small, less important part in a play, film, or TV show

Surface Forms

name part singular

name parts plural

Morphology

name + part

The noun+noun composition is directly compositional: 'part' = role and 'name' identifies which role, so a learner knowing both words can infer it refers to the role of the character named in the title. This follows a regular English modifier pattern (like 'title role') and has clear cross-linguistic parallels, making the meaning accessible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Name part comes from the theatre: when a play is named after a character, the role that gives the play its title is the name part. So a name part is 'the role in a play of the character whose name appears in the title' and is usually the main or lead character.