di·vide

[dih-vahyd] verb, di·vid·ed, di·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.
7.
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.
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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; Middle English (< Anglo-French divider) < Latin dīvidere to separate, divide

Related forms
mis·di·vide, verb, mis·di·vid·ed, mis·di·vid·ing.
pre·di·vide, verb (used with object), pre·di·vid·ed, pre·di·vid·ing.
re·di·vide, verb, re·di·vid·ed, re·di·vid·ing.
un·di·vid·ing, adjective

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. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To divide
Collins
World English Dictionary
divide (dɪˈvaɪd) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb
1.  to separate or be separated into parts or groups; split up; part
2.  to share or be shared out in parts; distribute
3.  to diverge or cause to diverge in opinion or aim: the issue divided the management
4.  (tr) to keep apart or be a boundary between: the Rio Grande divides Mexico from the United States
5.  (intr) (in Parliament and similar legislatures) to vote by separating into two groups
6.  to categorize; classify
7.  to calculate the quotient of (one number or quantity) and (another number or quantity) by division: to divide 50 by 10; to divide 10 into 50; to divide by 10
8.  (intr) to diverge: the roads divide
9.  (tr) to mark increments of (length, angle, etc) as by use of an engraving machine
 
—n
10.  chiefly (US), (Canadian) See also continental divide an area of relatively high ground separating drainage basins; watershed
11.  a division; split
 
[C14: from Latin dīvidere to force apart, from di-² + vid- separate, from the source of viduus bereaved, viduawidow]
 
di'vidable
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

divide
late 14c., 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 early 15c. 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 (c.1600) translates L. divide et impera, a maxim of Machiavelli. Related: Divided; dividing.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

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

  1. To separate or become separated into parts, sections, groups, or branches.

  2. To sector into units of measurement; graduate.

  3. To separate and group according to kind; classify.

  4. To branch out, as a blood vessel.

  5. To undergo cell division.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
divide   (dĭ-vīd')  Pronunciation Key 

  1. To subject (a number) to the process of division.

  2. To be a divisor of.

  3. To use (a number) as a divisor.

  4. To perform the operation of division.

  5. To undergo cell division.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences from the web
The list of dvergar seems to divide into three separate interpolations.
Racing picture and ace band divide top spots on bill of general appeal.
One way to divide huntergatherer groups is by their return systems.
About one third of the park lies on the west side of the divide.
Slang
great divide
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