divide definition | Dictionary.com

di⋅vide

[di-vahyd]

verb, -vid⋅ed, -vid⋅ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to separate into parts, groups, sections, etc.

2.	to separate or part from something else; sunder; cut off.

3.	to deal out in parts; distribute in shares; apportion.

4.	to cleave; part.

5.	to separate in opinion or feeling; cause to disagree: The issue divided the senators.

6.	to distinguish the kinds of; classify.

Mathematics.

a.	to separate into equal parts by the process of mathematical division; apply the mathematical process of division to: Eight divided by four is two.

b.	to be a divisor of, without a remainder.

8.	to mark a uniform scale on (a ruler, thermometer, etc.).

9.	British Government. to separate (a legislature, assembly, etc.) into two groups in ascertaining the vote on a question.

–verb (used without object)

10.	to become divided or separated.

11.	to share something with others.

12.	to diverge; branch; fork: The road divides six miles from here.

13.	to perform the mathematical process of division: He could add and subtract but hadn't learned to divide.

14.	British Government. to vote by separating into two groups.

–noun

15.	a division: a divide in the road.

16.	Physical Geography. the line or zone of higher ground between two adjacent streams or drainage basins.

17.	Archaic. the act of dividing.

Origin:
1325–75; ME (< AF divider) < L dīvidere to separate, divide

Synonyms:
1. See separate. 2. sever, shear. 3. partition, portion. 5. alienate, estrange. 6. sort, arrange, distribute.

Antonyms:
1. unite.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To divide

di·vide (dĭ-vīd')

v. di·vid·ed, di·vid·ing, di·vides

v. tr.

1. To separate into parts, sections, groups, or branches: divided the students into four groups. See Synonyms at separate.
2. To sector into units of measurement; graduate: The ruler was divided into metric units.
3. To separate and group according to kind; classify: divided the plants by genus.
4. To cause to separate into opposing factions; disunite: "They want not to divide either the Revolution or the Church but to be an integral part of both" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).
5. To cause (members of a parliament) to vote by separating into groups, as pro and con.
6. To subject (a number) to the process of division: divided 20 by 4.
7. To be a divisor of: 3 divides 9.
8. To use (a number) as a divisor: divided 5 into 35.
1. To cause to separate into opposing factions; disunite: "They want not to divide either the Revolution or the Church but to be an integral part of both" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).
2. To cause (members of a parliament) to vote by separating into groups, as pro and con.
3. To subject (a number) to the process of division: divided 20 by 4.
4. To be a divisor of: 3 divides 9.
5. To use (a number) as a divisor: divided 5 into 35.
To separate from something else; cut off: A mountain chain divides France and Spain.
To apportion among a number: Volunteers divided the different jobs among themselves. See Synonyms at distribute.
Mathematics
1. To subject (a number) to the process of division: divided 20 by 4.
2. To be a divisor of: 3 divides 9.
3. To use (a number) as a divisor: divided 5 into 35.

v. intr.

1. To become separated into parts.
2. To branch out, as a river.
3. To form into factions; take sides: The party divided evenly on the tax issue.
4. To vote by dividing.
Mathematics To perform the operation of division.
Biology To undergo cell division.

A dividing point or line: "would clearly tip the court . . . across a dangerous constitutional divide" (Lawrence H. Tribe).
A ridge of land; a watershed.

[Middle English dividen, from Latin dīvidere : dī-, dis-, dis- + -videre, to separate.]
di·vid'a·ble adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Divide

Di*vide"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divided; p. pr. & vb. n. Dividing.] [L. dividere, divisum; di- = dis- + root signifying to part; cf. Skr. vyadh to pierce; perh. akin to L. vidua widow, and E. widow. Cf. Device, Devise.]

1. To part asunder (a whole); to sever into two or more parts or pieces; to sunder; to separate into parts.

Divide the living child in two. --1 Kings iii. 25.

2. To cause to be separate; to keep apart by a partition, or by an imaginary line or limit; as, a wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns.

Let it divide the waters from the waters. --Gen. i. 6.

3. To make partition of among a number; to apportion, as profits of stock among proprietors; to give in shares; to distribute; to mete out; to share.

True justice unto people to divide. --Spenser.

Ye shall divide the land by lot. --Num. xxxiii. 54.

4. To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile; to set at variance.

If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand. --Mark iii. 24.

Every family became now divided within itself. --Prescott.

5. To separate into two parts, in order to ascertain the votes for and against a measure; as, to divide a legislative house upon a question.

6. (Math.) To subject to arithmetical division.

7. (Logic) To separate into species; -- said of a genus or generic term.

8. (Mech.) To mark divisions on; to graduate; as, to divide a sextant.

9. (Music) To play or sing in a florid style, or with variations. [Obs.] --Spenser.

Syn: To sever; dissever; sunder; cleave; disjoin; disunite; detach; disconnect; part; distribute; share.

Divide

Di*vide"\, v. i. 1. To be separated; to part; to open; to go asunder. --Milton.

The Indo-Germanic family divides into three groups. --J. Peile.

2. To cause separation; to disunite.

A gulf, a strait, the sea intervening between islands, divide less than the matted forest. --Bancroft.

3. To break friendship; to fall out. --Shak.

4. To have a share; to partake. --Shak.

5. To vote, as in the British Parliament, by the members separating themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the noes.

The emperors sat, voted, and divided with their equals. --Gibbon.

Divide

Di*vide"\, n. A dividing ridge of land between the tributaries of two streams; a watershed.

Language Translation for : divide

Spanish: dividir,

German: teilen,

Japanese: 分割する

More Translations »

divide (v.)

c.1374, from L. dividere "to force apart, cleave, distribute," from dis- "apart" + -videre "to separate," from PIE base *widh- "to separate," related to widow; and see with. Mathematical sense is from c.1425. The noun meaning "watershed, separation between river valleys" is first recorded 1807. Divider "partition or screen," especially in a room, is from 1959. Divide and rule (1602) translates L. divide et impera, a maxim of Machiavelli.

Main Entry: di·vide
Pronunciation: d&-'vId
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: di·vid·ed; di·vid·ing
transitive senses
: to separate into two or more parts <divide a nerve surgically> divide intransitive senses
: to undergo replication,multiplication, fission, or separation into parts dividing cells>

divide di·vide (dĭ-vīd')
v. di·vid·ed, di·vid·ing, di·vides

To separate or become separated into parts, sections, groups, or branches.
To sector into units of measurement; graduate.
To separate and group according to kind; classify.
To branch out, as a blood vessel.
To undergo cell division.

divide (dĭ-vīd') Pronunciation Key

To subject (a number) to the process of division.
To be a divisor of.
To use (a number) as a divisor.
To perform the operation of division.
To undergo cell division.

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