splitting

American  

[split-ing] / ˈsplɪt ɪŋ /

adjective

1. being split or causing something to split.

2. violent or severe, as a headache.

3. very fast or rapid.

---

noun

1. Usually splittings. a part or fragment that has been split off from something.

   Some cavemen made their smaller tools from the splittings of stone.

splitting British  

/ ˈsplɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of a headache) intolerably painful; acute

2. (of the head) assailed by an overpowering unbearable pain

---

noun

1. psychoanal the Freudian defence mechanism in which an object or idea (or, alternatively, the ego) is separated into two or more parts in order to remove its threatening meaning

Other Word Forms

• antisplitting adjective

Etymology

Origin of splitting

First recorded in 1585–95; split + -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

In reality, Reyes has been splitting her time on set with another ABC workplace drama.

From Los Angeles Times

The dough he had been poorly flattening to that point tore at a thin spot, splitting in half before it fell between the grates of the stovetop—straight onto the open flame.

From Literature

Dad says, his face splitting with a smile.

From Literature

One of the tethers binding the soul to the body snapped, like the stem of a leaf splitting from a tree.

From Literature

The visitors' goal was alarmingly simple, with one pass from their own half splitting the Welsh midfield and defence to allow Bojan Miovski time and space in the penalty area to finish.

From BBC

Related Words

• breakdown
• disintegration
• dissolution
• divorce
• separation
• split
• termination