divide

[ dih-vahyd ]

verb (used with object)

, di·vid·ed, di·vid·ing.

1. to separate into parts, groups, sections, etc.

   Antonyms: unite

2. to separate or part from something else; sunder; cut off.

   Synonyms: shear, sever

3. to deal out in parts; distribute in shares; apportion.

   Synonyms: portion, partition

4. to cleave; part.
5. to separate in opinion or feeling; cause to disagree:

   The issue divided the senators.

   Synonyms: estrange, alienate

6. to distinguish the kinds of; classify.

   Synonyms: distribute, arrange, sort

7. Mathematics.
   1. to separate into equal parts by the process of mathematical division; apply the mathematical process of division to:

      Eight divided by four is two.

   2. to be a divisor of, without a remainder.
8. to mark a uniform scale on (a ruler, thermometer, etc.).
9. British Government. to separate (a legislature, assembly, etc.) into two groups in ascertaining the vote on a question.

verb (used without object)

, di·vid·ed, di·vid·ing.

1. to become divided or separated.
2. to share something with others.
3. to diverge; branch; fork:

   The road divides six miles from here.

4. to perform the mathematical process of division:

   He could add and subtract but hadn't learned to divide.

5. British Government. to vote by separating into two groups.

noun

1. a division:

   a divide in the road.

2. Physical Geography. the line or zone of higher ground between two adjacent streams or drainage basins.
3. Archaic. the act of dividing.

divide

/ dɪˈvaɪd /

verb

1. to separate or be separated into parts or groups; split up; part
2. to share or be shared out in parts; distribute
3. to diverge or cause to diverge in opinion or aim

   the issue divided the management

4. tr to keep apart or be a boundary between

   the Rio Grande divides Mexico from the United States

5. intr (in Parliament and similar legislatures) to vote by separating into two groups
6. to categorize; classify
7. to calculate the quotient of (one number or quantity) and (another number or quantity) by division

   to divide 50 by 10

   to divide by 10

   to divide 10 into 50

8. intr to diverge

   the roads divide

9. tr to mark increments of (length, angle, etc) as by use of an engraving machine

noun

1. See continental divide
   an area of relatively high ground separating drainage basins; watershed See also continental divide
2. a division; split

divide

/ dĭ-vīd′ /

1. To subject (a number) to the process of division.
2. To be a divisor of.
3. To use (a number) as a divisor.
4. To perform the operation of division.
5. To undergo cell division.

Derived Forms

• diˈvidable, adjective

Other Words From

• misdi·vide verb misdivided misdividing
• predi·vide verb (used with object) predivided predividing
• redi·vide verb redivided redividing
• undi·viding adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of divide¹

First recorded 1325–75; Middle English (from Anglo-French divider ), from Latin dīvidere “to separate, divide”

Word History and Origins

Origin of divide¹

C14: from Latin dīvidere to force apart, from di- ² + vid- separate, from the source of viduus bereaved, vidua widow

Synonym Study

See separate.

Example Sentences

Bridging the divide between the police and those who distrust them will take more than protests and symbolic gestures.

From The Daily Beast

Divide batter into prepared ramekins, place ramekins on a baking sheet, and bake about 20 minutes.

From The Daily Beast

Divide the dough in half and very gently pat each half into a round 1-inch-thick disk.

From The Daily Beast

“You can castigate the leaders; you can try and divide us by generation,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

There is an extreme demonstration of this divide in the nation.

From The Daily Beast

His head fell back limp on MacRae's arm, and the rest of the message went with the game old Dutchman across the big divide.

From Project Gutenberg

Still a-shiver at dawn, I saddled up and loped for the crest of the nearest divide to get the benefit of the first sun-rays.

From Project Gutenberg

I remember him saying once—it was at the Zoo—what a pity it was he hadn't enough to divide among the whole Cabinet.

From Project Gutenberg

Should an association dissolve, then the members may divide its property among themselves.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes a quarrel springs up in one of these associations, the members divide, who shall have the property?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• break
• break down
• carve
• cut
• isolate
• partition
• segregate
• split
• subdivide
• tear