Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

Medical

Scrabble^®

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Dictionary

¹split

verb \ˈsplit\

: to break apart or into pieces especially along a straight line

: to separate or divide into parts or groups

: to separate or divide into groups that disagree

splitsplit·ting

Full Definition of SPLIT

transitive verb

a : to divide lengthwise usually along a grain or seam or by layers

b : to affect as if by cleaving or forcing apart <the river splits the town in two>

a (1) : to tear or rend apart : burst (2) : to subject (an atom or atomic nucleus) to artificial disintegration by fission

b : to affect as if by breaking up or tearing apart : shatter <a roar that split the air>

: to divide into parts or portions: as

a : to divide between persons : share

b : to divide into factions, parties, or groups

c : to mark (a ballot) or cast or register (a vote) so as to vote for candidates of different parties

d (1) : to divide or break down (a chemical compound) into constituents <split a fat into glycerol and fatty acids> (2) : to remove by such separation <split off carbon dioxide>

e : to divide (stock) by issuing a larger number of shares to existing shareholders usually without increase in total par value

: to separate (the parts of a whole) by interposing something <split an infinitive>

: leave <split the party> <split town>

intransitive verb

a : to become split lengthwise or into layers

b : to break apart : burst

a : to become divided up or separated off <split into factions> <split from the group>

b : to sever relations or connections : separate

c : leave; especially : to leave without delay <split for the coast>

British : to betray confidence : act as an informer —usually used with on

: to apportion shares

— split hairs

: to make oversubtle or trivial distinctions

— split one's sides

: to laugh heartily

— split the difference

: to arrive at a compromise

See split defined for English-language learners

See split defined for kids

Origin of SPLIT

Dutch splitten, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle High German splīzen to split and probably to Old High German spaltan to split

First Known Use: 1567

Related to SPLIT

Synonyms: break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, sever, separate, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke

Antonyms: join, link, unify, unite

Synonym Discussion of SPLIT

tear, rip, rend, split, cleave, rive mean to separate forcibly. tear implies pulling apart by force and leaving jagged edges <tear up the letter>. rip implies a pulling apart in one rapid uninterrupted motion often along a line or joint <ripped the shirt on a nail>. rend implies very violent or ruthless severing or sundering <an angry mob rent the prisoner's clothes>. split implies a cutting or breaking apart in a continuous, straight, and usually lengthwise direction or in the direction of grain or layers <split logs for firewood>. cleave implies very forceful splitting or cutting with a blow <a bolt of lightning cleaved the giant oak>. rive occurs most often in figurative use <a political party riven by conflict>.

Rhymes with SPLIT

bit, bitt, brit, Brit, chit, dit, fit, flit, frit, git, grit, hit, it, kit, knit, lit, mitt, nit, pit, quit, sit, skit, slit, snit, spit, Split, sprit, teat, tit, twit, whit, wit, writ, zit

²split

adjective

Definition of SPLIT

: divided, fractured

: prepared for use by splitting <split bamboo> <split hides>

: heterozygous —used especially by breeders of cage birds sometimes with for

First Known Use of SPLIT

1593

Related to SPLIT

Synonyms: disunited, divided

Antonyms: unanimous, undivided, united

³split

noun

: a narrow break, tear, or crack

: a division or separation in a group that is caused by a disagreement

: a clear separation or difference between two or more things

Full Definition of SPLIT

a : a narrow break made by or as if by splitting

b : an arrangement of bowling pins left standing with space for pins between them

: a piece split off or made thin by splitting

a : a division into or between divergent or antagonistic elements or forces <a cultural split>

b : a faction formed in this way

a : the act or process of splitting (as the stock of a corporation)

b : the act of lowering oneself to the floor or leaping into the air with legs extended at right angles to the trunk

: a product of division by or as if by splitting

: a wine bottle holding one quarter the usual amount or about .1875 liters (6 to 6.5 ounces); also : the quantity held by a split

: an ice cream sundae served over slices of fruit (as banana)

: the recorded time at or for a specific part of a race

See split defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of SPLIT

1597

Related to SPLIT

Synonyms: check, chink, cleft, cranny, crevice, fissure, rift, crack

Antonyms: unification, union

Split

geographical name \ˈsplit\

Definition of SPLIT

city & port S Croatia on Dalmatian coast pop 200,459

Rhymes with SPLIT

bit, bitt, brit, Brit, chit, dit, fit, flit, frit, git, grit, hit, it, kit, knit, lit, mitt, nit, pit, quit, sit, skit, slit, snit, spit, split, sprit, teat, tit, twit, whit, wit, writ, zit

SPLIT Defined for Kids

¹split

verb \ˈsplit\

splitsplit·ting

Definition of SPLIT for Kids

: to divide lengthwise or by layers <split a log>

: to separate into parts or groups <A highway splits the neighborhood.> <Let's split up and search different areas.>

: to burst or break apart or in pieces <The melon fell and split open.>

: to divide into shares or sections <We split the profit.>

²split

noun

Definition of SPLIT for Kids

: a product or result of dividing, separating, or breaking apart : crack

: the act or process of dividing, separating, or breaking apart : division <There's a split in that political party.>

: an action or position in which a person's legs are extended in a straight line and in opposite directions

³split

adjective

Definition of SPLIT for Kids

: divided by or as if by splitting <We're split on what to do next.>

Medical Dictionary

split

transitive verb \ˈsplit\

splitsplit·ting

Medical Definition of SPLIT

: to divide or break down (a chemical compound) into constituents <split a fat into glycerol and fatty acids>; also : to remove by such separation