First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1divide
verb di·vide \də-ˈvīd\
: to separate (something) into two or more parts or pieces
: to separate (something) into classes or categories
: to give (something) out in usually equal amounts
di·vid·eddi·vid·ing
Full Definition of DIVIDE
transitive verb
1
2
a : to separate into portions and give out in shares : distribute <divide profits> b : to possess, enjoy, or make use of in common <divide the blame> c : apportion <divides her time between the office and home>
3
a : to cause to be separate, distinct, or apart from one another <fields divided by stone walls> b : to separate into opposing sides or parties <the issues that divide us> c : to cause (a parliamentary body) to vote by division
4
intransitive verb
1
: to perform mathematical division
2
a (1) : to undergo replication, multiplication, fission, or separation into parts (2) : to branch out b : to become separated or disunited especially in opinion or interest
— di·vid·able \-ˈvī-də-bəl\ adjective
See divide defined for English-language learners
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Origin of DIVIDE
Middle English, from Latin dividere, from dis- + -videre to separate — more at widow
Related to DIVIDE
Synonym Discussion of DIVIDE
separate, part, divide, sever, sunder, divorce mean to become or cause to become disunited or disjointed. separate may imply any of several causes such as dispersion, removal of one from others, or presence of an intervening thing <separated her personal life from her career>. part implies the separating of things or persons in close union or association <vowed never to part>. divide implies separating into pieces or sections by cutting or breaking <civil war divided the nation>. sever implies violence especially in the removal of a part or member <a severed limb>. sunder suggests violent rending or wrenching apart <a city sundered by racial conflict>. divorce implies separating two things that commonly interact and belong together <cannot divorce scientific research from moral responsibility>.
distribute, dispense, divide, deal, dole out mean to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group. distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts <distributed food to the needy>. dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need <dispensed wisdom to the students>. divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal <three charitable groups divided the proceeds>. deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece <deal out equipment and supplies>. dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply <doled out what little food there was>.
distribute, dispense, divide, deal, dole out mean to give out, usually in shares, to each member of a group. distribute implies an apportioning by separation of something into parts, units, or amounts <distributed food to the needy>. dispense suggests the giving of a carefully weighed or measured portion to each of a group according to due or need <dispensed wisdom to the students>. divide stresses the separation of a whole into parts and implies that the parts are equal <three charitable groups divided the proceeds>. deal emphasizes the allotment of something piece by piece <deal out equipment and supplies>. dole out implies a carefully measured portion of something that is often in short supply <doled out what little food there was>.
Rhymes with DIVIDE
abide, allied, applied, aside, astride, backside, backslide, bankside, beachside, bedside, beside, bestride, betide, blear-eyed, blindside, blow-dried, blue-eyed, broadside, bromide, bug-eyed, Burnside, clear-eyed, cockeyed, cold-eyed, collide, confide, courtside, cowhide, cross-eyed, curbside, dayside, decide, deride, dockside, doe-eyed, downside, downslide, dry-eyed, ebb tide, elide, field guide, fireside, flip side, flood tide, fluoride, foreside, four-eyed, free ride, freeze-dried, Girl Guide, glass-eyed, graveside, green-eyed, hagride, hang glide, hard-eyed, hawkeyed, hayride, high tide, hillside, horsehide, inside, in stride, ironside, joyride, kingside, lakeside, landslide, low tide, lynx-eyed, misguide, moon-eyed, neap tide, nearside, nightside, noontide, offside, onside, outride, outside, pie-eyed, poolside, pop-eyed, preside, prompt side, provide, quayside, queenside, rawhide, red tide, reside, ringside, riptide, roadside, seaside, self-pride, sharp-eyed, shipside, shoreside, Shrovetide, sloe-eyed, snowslide, springtide, squint-eyed, stateside, statewide, storewide, Strathclyde, streamside, strong side, subside, tailslide, tongue-tied, topside, trackside, trailside, untried, upside, vat-dyed, walleyed, war bride, waveguide, wayside, wide-eyed, wild-eyed, worldwide, yuletide
2divide
noun
: a line of hills or mountains from which rivers drain : a ridge between two rivers
: a separation of people into two or more groups that is caused by different opinions or beliefs or by a disagreement
Full Definition of DIVIDE
1
: an act of dividing
2
a : a dividing ridge between drainage areas b : a point or line of division or disagreement
See divide defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DIVIDE
1642
DIVIDE Defined for Kids
divide
verb di·vide \də-ˈvīd\
di·vid·eddi·vid·ing
Definition of DIVIDE for Kids
1
: to separate into two or more parts or pieces <She divided the pie into eight pieces.>
2
: to give out in shares <I divided the money between us.>
3
: to be or make different in opinion or interest <The country was divided over the issue.>
4
: to subject to or perform mathematical division <Divide 10 by 2.>
Medical Dictionary
divide
verb di·vide \də-ˈvīd\
di·vid·eddi·vid·ing
Medical Definition of DIVIDE
transitive verb
: to separate into two or more parts <divide a nerve surgically>
intransitive verb
: to undergo replication, multiplication, fission, or separation into parts <actively dividing cells>
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