split

Pronunciation: /splɪt/

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Definition of 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 split [with object]:split and toast the muffins
remove or be removed by breaking, separating, or dividing: [no object]:a group of Nottinghamshire miners split away to create a separate union
divide or cause to divide into parts or elements: [no object]:the river had split into a number of channels 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): it could ultimately prove as significant an achievement as splitting the atom

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:after the band split up Tex became a railway clerk
[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] British informal betray the secrets of or inform on someone:I told him I wouldn’t split on him

5 [no object] informal leave a place, especially suddenly:‘Let’s split,’ Harvey said

noun

1a tear, crack, or fissure in something, especially down the middle or along the grain:splits appeared in the decaying planks light squeezed through a small split in the curtain
an instance or act of splitting or being split; a division:a 75-25 split of proceeds 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 other relationship:a much-publicized split with his wife

2 (the splits or US also a split) (in gymnastics and dance) an act of leaping in the air or sitting down with the legs straight and at right angles to the body, one in front and the other behind, or one at each side:I could never do the splits 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 of champagne.
a single thickness of split hide.
(in tenpin 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.
US a split-level house.

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

5North American a drawn match or series.

Phrases

split the difference: take the average of two proposed amounts.
split hairs: see hair.
split one's sides (North American also split a gut): informal be convulsed with laughter.
split the ticket (or one's vote): US vote for candidates of more than one party.
split the vote: (of a candidate or minority party) attract votes from another candidate or party with the result that both are defeated by a third.

Origin:

late 16th century (originally in the sense 'break up a ship', describing the force of a storm or rock): from Middle Dutch splitten, of unknown ultimate origin

split in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of split in the US English dictionary

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Other

split

verb (splits, splitting, split)

noun

Phrases

split the difference

split hairs

split one's sides (North American also split a gut)

split the ticket (or one's vote)

split the vote

Origin:

split in other Oxford dictionaries

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