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division

[ dih-vizh-uhn ]
/ dɪˈvɪʒ ən /
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See synonyms for: division / divisions / divisional on Thesaurus.com

noun
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Origin of division

1325–75; Middle English divisioun, devisioun (<Anglo-French ) <Latin dīvīsiōn- (stem of dīvīsiō), equivalent to dīvīs(us) (see divisible) + -iōn--ion

synonym study for division

1. Division, partition suggest dividing into parts. Division usually means marking off or separating a whole into parts. Partition often adds the idea of allotting or assigning parts following division: partition of an estate, of a country.

OTHER WORDS FROM division

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT DIVISION

What is division?

Division is the act of dividing, or separating, a whole into pieces, as in Mom made a chart that shows the division of chores is fair.

A division is a piece of a whole, often with all divisions being equal in size.

A division is also something used as a dividing line or mark between areas, such as a line of chalk on the sidewalk.

Division can also be used figuratively to refer to a separation caused by a difference of opinion or disagreement, as in The division in our family was caused by a fight over whose macaroni and cheese was better.

In arithmetic, division is the process that involves determining how many times one number is contained in another. For example, if we wanted to know how many times 2 is contained in 8, we would use division to find out, dividing 8 into groups of 2.

Example: All questions related to funding and accounts should be sent to the accounting division.

Where does division come from?

The first records of the term division come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin dīvidere, meaning “to divide.” Whether a division refers to a literal or figurative dividing, one part is separated from the whole.

In sports, play is divided up into divisions. In high school sports, a district is broken up into divisions based on how many students a school has, and that district is part of a larger division that is based on the geographic area. In college sports, divisions are created by geography, population, and funding. Finally, in professional sports, divisions are created by geography, both within countries and worldwide, depending on the sport.

In a business or organization, division can be used as a synonym for department. A division of an organization is a group of individuals who work together to accomplish a shared task for the organization, such as a sales division, which focuses on selling products.

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What are some other forms related to division?

  • divisional (adjective)
  • divisionally (adverb)
  • hyperdivision (noun)
  • interdivision (noun)

What are some synonyms for division?

What are some words that share a root or word element with division

What are some words that often get used in discussing division?

How is division used in real life?

Division is a common word with many uses and senses.

 

Try using division!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for division?

A. department
B. whole
C. segment
D. branch

How to use division in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for division

division
/ (dɪˈvɪʒən) /

noun

Derived forms of division

divisional or divisionary, adjectivedivisionally, adverb

Word Origin for division

C14: from Latin dīvīsiō, from dīvidere to divide
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for division

division
[ dĭ-vĭzhən ]

The act, process, or operation of finding out how many times one number or quantity is contained in another.
A taxonomic classification within the plant kingdom that ranks immediately above a class and corresponds to a phylum in other kingdoms. See Table at taxonomy.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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