division

noun di·vi·sion \də-ˈvi-zhən\

: the act or process of dividing something into parts : the way that something is divided

: something that physically divides or separates something else

mathematics : the process of finding out how many times one number is contained in another

Full Definition of DIVISION

a : the act or process of dividing : the state of being divided

b : the act, process, or an instance of distributing among a number : distribution

c obsolete : a method of arranging or disposing (as troops)

: one of the parts or groupings into which a whole is divided or is divisible

: the condition or an instance of being divided in opinion or interest : disagreement, disunity <exploited the divisions between the two countries>

a : something that divides, separates, or marks off

b : the act, process, or an instance of separating or keeping apart : separation

: the mathematical operation of dividing something

a : a self-contained major military unit capable of independent action

b : a tactical military unit composed of headquarters and usually three to five brigades

c (1) : the basic naval administrative unit (2) : a tactical subdivision of a squadron of ships

d : a unit of the United States Air Force higher than a wing and lower than an air force

a : a portion of a territorial unit marked off for a particular purpose (as administrative or judicial functions)

b : an administrative or operating unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization

: the physical separation into different lobbies of the members of a parliamentary body voting for and against a question

: plant propagation by dividing parts and planting segments capable of producing roots and shoots

: a group of organisms forming part of a larger group; specifically : a primary category of the plant kingdom in biological taxonomy that is typically equivalent to a phylum

: a competitive class or category (as in boxing or wrestling)

— di·vi·sion·al \-ˈvizh-nəl, -ˈvi-zhə-n^əl\ adjective

See division defined for English-language learners

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Origin of DIVISION

Middle English, from Anglo-French devision, from Latin division-, divisio, from dividere to divide

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DIVISION

Synonyms: divider, partition, separation, separator

Antonyms: unification, union

Synonym Discussion of DIVISION

part, portion, piece, member, division, section, segment, fragment mean something less than the whole. part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required <they ran only part of the way>. portion implies an assigned or allotted part <cut the pie into six portions>. piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole <a puzzle with 500 pieces>. member suggests one of the functional units composing a body <a structural member>. division applies to a large or diversified part <the manufacturing division of the company>. section applies to a relatively small or uniform part <the entertainment section of the newspaper>. segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage <the retired segment of the population>. fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off <only a fragment of the play still exists>.