splice

American  

[splahys] / splaɪs /

verb (used with object)

splices, present (3rd person singular) spliced, past participle, past splicing present participle

1. to join together or unite (two ropes or parts of a rope) by the interweaving of strands.

2. to unite (timbers, spars, or the like) by overlapping and binding their ends.

3. to unite (film, magnetic tape, or the like) by butting and cementing.

4. to join or unite.

5. Genetics. to join (segments of DNA or RNA) together.

6. Informal. to unite in marriage.

   They'll be spliced in June.

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noun

1. a joining of two ropes or parts of a rope by splicing.

2. the union or junction made by splicing.

3. a joining or junction of two pieces of timber, spar, etc., by overlapping and fastening the ends.

4. a joining of film, electromagnetic tape, or the like.

idioms

1. splice the main brace,

   1. to issue a ration of spirits, as grog, to all hands.

   2. to drink spirits.

splice British  

/ splaɪs /

verb

1. to join (two ropes) by intertwining the strands

2. to join up the trimmed ends of (two pieces of wire, film, magnetic tape, etc) with solder or an adhesive material

3. to join (timbers) by overlapping and binding or bolting the ends together

4. informal (passive) to enter into marriage

   the couple got spliced last Saturday

5. nautical history to issue and partake of an extra allocation of alcoholic spirits

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noun

1. a join made by splicing

2. the place where such a join occurs

3. the wedge-shaped end of a cricket-bat handle or similar instrument that fits into the blade

splice Scientific  

/ splīs /

1. To join together genes or gene fragments or insert them into a cell or other structure, such as a virus, by means of enzymes. In genetic engineering, scientists splice together genetic material to produce new genes or to alter a genetic structure. In messenger RNA, the introns are removed, and exons are spliced together to yield the final messenger RNA that is translated.

2. See also exon intron

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undersplice
  verb (used with object)
• unspliced
  adjective
• spliceable
  adjective
• splicer
  noun
• resplice
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have spliced
  perfect
• has spliced
  perfect 3rd person singular
• are splicing
  progressive
• is splicing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am splicing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been splicing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been splicing
  perfect progressive
• splices
  singular 3rd person
• splicing
  participle

Past

• had spliced
  perfect
• was splicing
  progressive singular
• were splicing
  progressive plural
• spliced
  simple
• had been splicing
  perfect progressive
• spliced
  participle

Future

• will splice
  simple
• will have spliced
  perfect
• will have been splicing
  perfect progressive
• will be splicing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of splice

1515–25; < earlier Dutch splissen (now splitsen )

Explanation

As noun and verb, splice refers to the overlapping or interweaving of two ends of something to create the strongest possible attachment. The earliest records of the word splice are from the early 16th century, when it was borrowed from the Middle Dutch verb splissen, used by sailors for joining ropes end to end by interweaving their strands. In 1912, the infant motion-picture industry took over the word splice to refer to the cutting and joining of film in the editing process. In 1975, scientists found they could alter genes by cutting and adding chunks of DNA, creating the science of gene splicing.

Example Sentences

"People are really frightened. And with winter coming, it's going to get worse," said Tracey Morgan, who runs Splice.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2022

Bending Spoons, whose apps include popular video editing tool Splice and Remini, an image editor based on artificial intelligence technology, said the money could be used for acquisitions.

From Reuters • Sep. 27, 2022

Stefan Hayden, a front-end software developer in New Jersey, received a termination email on July 20 from his job at the cloud-based music platform Splice.

From Washington Post • Aug. 2, 2022

While del Toro himself is the showrunner and executive producer, he’s managed to recruit some notable writers and directors from movies like Mandy, The Empty Man, and Splice.

From The Verge • Jun. 6, 2022

Splice it, or else put in a new reel and on with the show.

From Tom Swift in the Land of Wonders, or, the Underground Search for the Idol of Gold by Appleton, Victor [pseud.]

Related Words

• graft