split

[ split ]
See synonyms for split on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),split, split·ting.
  1. to divide or separate from end to end or into layers: to split a log in two.

  2. to separate by cutting, chopping, etc., usually lengthwise: to split a piece from a block.

  1. to tear or break apart; rend or burst: The wind split the sail.

  2. to divide into distinct parts or portions (often followed by up): We split up the frosting into separate bowls and made each one a different color.

  3. to separate (a part) by such division.

  4. to divide (persons) into different groups, factions, parties, etc., as by discord: to split a political party.

  5. to separate (a group, family, etc.) by such division.

  6. to cast (a ballot or vote) for candidates of more than one political party.

  7. to divide between two or more persons, groups, etc.; share: We split a bottle of wine.

  8. to separate into parts by interposing something: to split an infinitive.

  9. Physics, Chemistry. to divide (molecules or atoms) by cleavage into smaller parts.

  10. to issue additional shares of (stock) to existing stockholders without charging them, thereby dividing their interest into a larger number of shares and reducing the price per share.

  11. Slang. to leave; depart from: Let's split this scene.

verb (used without object),split, split·ting.
  1. to divide, break, or part lengthwise: The board split in half.

  2. to part, divide, or separate in any way (often followed by up): The group of children split up into two teams. We'll split up here and meet later.

  1. to break asunder, as a ship by striking on a rock.

  2. to become separated, as a piece or part from a whole.

  3. to part or separate, as through disagreement; sever relations: They split up after a year of marriage. He split with the company after a policy dispute.

  4. to divide or share something with another or others; apportion.

  5. Slang. to leave; depart.

noun
  1. the act of splitting.

  2. a crack, tear, or fissure caused by splitting.

  1. a piece or part separated by or as by splitting.

  2. a breach or rupture, as between persons, in a party or organization, etc.

  3. a faction, party, etc., formed by a rupture or schism.

  4. Also called, especially British, nip. a bottle for wine or, sometimes, another beverage, containing from 6 to 6½ ounces (170 to 184 grams).

  5. a bottle, as of soda, liquor, etc., which is half the usual size.

  6. a strip split from an osier, used in basketmaking.

  7. Masonry. a brick of normal length and breadth but of half normal thickness, used to give level support to a course of bricks laid over one not level.

  8. Often splits . the feat of separating the legs while sinking to the floor, until they extend at right angles to the body, as in stage performances or gymnastics.

  9. the amount of time it takes to complete a portion of a race, as a leg of a relay race, a lap of a track, half of a marathon, etc.: Our anchor faded over the last 50 meters of his split, and we missed the podium by six-tenths of a second.

  10. Bowling. an arrangement of the pins remaining after the first bowl in two separated groups, so that a spare is difficult.

  11. Philately. bisect (def. 5).

  12. one of the layers of leather into which a skin is cut.

adjective
  1. having been split; parted lengthwise; cleft.

  2. disunited; divided: a split opinion.

  1. (of a stock quotation) given in sixteenths instead of eighths of a point.

  2. (of a stock) having undergone a split.

Idioms about split

  1. split hairs. hair (def. 11).

  2. split the difference. difference (def. 13).

Origin of split

1
First recorded in 1570–80; 1950–55 for def. 13; from Dutch splitten; akin to splijten, German spleissen “to split”

Other words from split

  • split·ta·ble, adjective
  • pre·split, adjective
  • un·split, adjective
  • un·split·ta·ble, adjective

Other definitions for Split (2 of 2)

Split
[ split ]

noun
  1. a seaport in S Croatia, on the Adriatic: Roman ruins.

  • Italian Spa·la·to [spah-lah-taw] /ˈspɑ lɑ tɔ/ .

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for split (1 of 2)

split

/ (splɪt) /


verbsplits, splitting or split
  1. to break or cause to break, esp forcibly, by cleaving into separate pieces, often into two roughly equal pieces: to split a brick

  2. to separate or be separated from a whole: he split a piece of wood from the block

  1. to separate or be separated into factions, usually through discord

  2. (often foll by up) to separate or cause to separate through a disagreement

  3. (when tr, often foll by up) to divide or be divided among two or more persons: split up the pie among the three of us

  4. slang to depart; leave: let's split; we split the scene

  5. (tr) to separate (something) into its components by interposing something else: to split a word with hyphens

  6. (intr usually foll by on) slang to betray the trust, plans, etc (of); inform: he split on me to the cops

  7. (tr) US politics to mark (a ballot, etc) so as to vote for the candidates of more than one party: he split the ticket

  8. (tr) to separate (an animal hide or skin) into layers

  9. split hairs to make a fine but needless distinction

  10. split one's sides to laugh very heartily

  11. split the difference

    • to settle a dispute by effecting a compromise in which both sides give way to the same extent

    • to divide a remainder equally

noun
  1. the act or process of splitting

  2. a gap or rift caused or a piece removed by the process of splitting

  1. a breach or schism in a group or the faction resulting from such a breach

  2. a dessert of sliced fruit and ice cream, covered with whipped cream, nuts, etc: banana split

    • a separated layer of an animal hide or skin other than the outer layer

    • leather made from such a layer

  3. tenpin bowling a formation of the pins after the first bowl in which there is a large gap between two pins or groups of pins

  4. informal an arrangement or process of dividing up loot or money

adjective
  1. having been split; divided: split logs

  2. having a split or splits: hair with split ends

Origin of split

1
C16: from Middle Dutch splitten to cleave; related to Middle High German splīzen; see splice

Derived forms of split

  • splitter, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Split (2 of 2)

Split

/ (Croatian split) /


noun
  1. a port and resort in W Croatia on the Adriatic: remains of the palace of Diocletian (295–305). Pop: 188 000 (2005 est): Italian name: Spalato

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012