Pars pro toto is Latin for "(taking) a part for the whole"; it is a kind of synecdoche. When used in a context of language it means that something is named after a part of it (or after a limited characteristic, in itself not necessarily representative for the whole). E.g. "glasses" is a "pars pro toto" name for something that consists of more than just two pieces of glass. The opposite of a pars pro toto is a totum pro parte, in which the whole is used to describe a part. Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Look up Synecdoche in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Synecdoche is a figure of speech that presents a kind of metaphor in which: A part of something is used for the whole, The whole is used for a part, The species is used for the genus, The genus is used for... Totum pro parte is Latin for (taking) the whole for a part; it refers to a kind of synecdoche. ...

In geography

Certain place names are sometimes used to denote an area greater than that warranted by their strict meaning. Examples of this include: In geography and cartography, a toponym is a place name, a geographical name, a proper name of locality, region, or some other part of Earths surface or its natural or artificial feature. ...

• England for Great Britain, the British Isles and/or the United Kingdom – see British Isles (terminology)
• Holland for the Netherlands – see Netherlands (terminology)
• Persia for Iran – see Iran naming dispute
• Russia for the former Soviet Union

Such usage can cause offence. The people of Scotland and Wales, for example, do not take kindly to the use of "England" to refer to Great Britain as a whole. Inhabitants of the Netherlands who live in provinces other than North or South Holland may feel excluded when "Holland" is used to describe their country. Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Location of the British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe consisting of Great Britain, Ireland, and several thousand smaller surrounding islands and islets. ...  The British Isles An Euler diagram clarifying the terminology. ... Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands. ... The Netherlands are known under various terms both in English and other languages. ... For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... Iran has been the subject of a naming dispute in common English usage. ... Motto: (Eng: No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by... Motto: (Welsh for Wales forever) Anthem: Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff Official language(s) English, Welsh Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM Unification    - by Gruffudd ap Llywelyn 1056  Area    - Total 20,779 km² (3rd in... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Capital Haarlem Queens Commissioner Mr. ... South Holland (Dutch Zuid-Holland) is a province of the Netherlands, located in the west of the country on the North Sea coast. ... Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands. ...

See also

• Metonymy