splice

[ splahys ]
See synonyms for: splicespliced on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),spliced, splic·ing.
  1. to join together or unite (two ropes or parts of a rope) by the interweaving of strands.

  2. to unite (timbers, spars, or the like) by overlapping and binding their ends.

  1. to unite (film, magnetic tape, or the like) by butting and cementing.

  2. to join or unite.

  3. Genetics. to join (segments of DNA or RNA) together.

  4. Informal. to unite in marriage: They'll be spliced in June.

noun
  1. a joining of two ropes or parts of a rope by splicing.

  2. the union or junction made by splicing.

  1. a joining or junction of two pieces of timber, spar, etc., by overlapping and fastening the ends.

  2. a joining of film, electromagnetic tape, or the like.

Idioms about splice

  1. splice the main brace, Nautical.

    • to issue a ration of spirits, as grog, to all hands.

    • to drink spirits.

Origin of splice

1
1515–25; < earlier Dutch splissen (now splitsen)

Other words from splice

  • splice·a·ble, adjective
  • re·splice, verb (used with object), re·spliced, re·splic·ing.
  • un·der·splice, verb (used with object), un·der·spliced, un·der·splic·ing.
  • un·spliced, adjective

Words Nearby splice

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

How to use splice in a sentence

  • His fingers finally closed over the wire; he jerked it out and with it the splice tool.

    Tight Squeeze | Dean Charles Ing
  • He got most of the strands of one end of wire shoved into a splice lug, and called it good enough.

    Tight Squeeze | Dean Charles Ing
  • If he could splice the wire hanging in front of him, Valier would once more be in perfect shape.

    Tight Squeeze | Dean Charles Ing
  • Then the splice was completed, and by evening we were under way for Cagayan, laying cable as we went.

British Dictionary definitions for splice

splice

/ (splaɪs) /


verb(tr)
  1. to join (two ropes) by intertwining the strands

  2. to join up the trimmed ends of (two pieces of wire, film, magnetic tape, etc) with solder or an adhesive material

  1. to join (timbers) by overlapping and binding or bolting the ends together

  2. (passive) informal to enter into marriage: the couple got spliced last Saturday

  3. splice the mainbrace nautical history to issue and partake of an extra allocation of alcoholic spirits

noun
  1. a join made by splicing

  2. the place where such a join occurs

  1. the wedge-shaped end of a cricket-bat handle or similar instrument that fits into the blade

Origin of splice

1
C16: probably from Middle Dutch splissen; related to German spleissen, Swedish splitsa; see split

Derived forms of splice

  • splicer, noun

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

Scientific definitions for splice

splice

[ splīs ]


  1. To join together genes or gene fragments or insert them into a cell or other structure, such as a virus, by means of enzymes. In genetic engineering, scientists splice together genetic material to produce new genes or to alter a genetic structure. In messenger RNA, the introns are removed, and exons are spliced together to yield the final messenger RNA that is translated. See also exon intron.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.