split

verb (splits, splitting, split)

• 1break or cause to break forcibly into parts, especially into halves or along the grain: [no object]:the ice cracked and heaved and split [with object]:split and toast the muffins
• remove or be removed by breaking, separating, or dividing: [with object]:the point was pressed against the edge of the flint to split off flakes [no object]:an incentive for regions to split away from countries
• divide or cause to divide into parts or elements: [no object]:the river had split into a number of channels [with object]:splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen
• [with object] divide and share (something, especially resources or responsibilities):they met up and split the booty
• [with object] cause the fission of (an atom).
• [with object] issue new shares of (stock) to existing stockholders in proportion to their current holdings.

• 2(with reference to a group of people) divide into two or more groups: [no object]:let’s split up and find the other two [with object]:once again the family was split up
• [no object] end a marriage or an emotional or working relationship:I split up with my boyfriend a year ago
• [with object] (of an issue) cause (a group) to be divided because of opposing views:the party was deeply split over its future direction

• 3 [no object] informal (of one’s head) suffer great pain from a headache:my head is splitting (as adjective splitting)a splitting headache

• 4 [no object] informal leave a place, especially suddenly:“Let’s split,” Harvey said

• 5 [no object] British informal betray the secrets of or inform on someone:I told him I wouldn’t split on him

noun

• 1a tear, crack, or fissure in something, especially down the middle or along the grain:light squeezed through a small split in the curtain
• an instance or act of splitting or being split; a division:the split between the rich and the poor
• a separation into parties or within a party; a schism:the accusations caused a split in the party
• an ending of a marriage or an emotional or working relationship:a much-publicized split with his wife
• short for stock split.

• 2 (a split or the splits) (in gymnastics and dance) an act of leaping in the air or sitting down with the legs straight and at right angles to the upright body, one in front and the other behind, or one at each side:I could never do a split before

• 3a thing that is divided or split, in particular.
• a bun, roll, or cake that is split or cut in half.
• a split osier used in basketwork.
• each strip of steel or cane that makes up the reed in a loom.
• half a bottle or glass of champagne or other liquor.
• a single thickness of split hide.
• (in bowling) a formation of standing pins after the first ball in which there is a gap between two pins or groups of pins, making a spare unlikely.
• a drawn game or series.
• a split-level house.

• 4the time it takes to complete a recognized part of a race, or the point in the race where such a time is measured.