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splice

[splahys]
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verb (used with object), spliced, splic·ing.
  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.
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Idioms
  1. splice the main brace, Nautical.
    1. to issue a ration of spirits, as grog, to all hands.
    2. to drink spirits.
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Origin of splice

1515–25; < earlier Dutch splissen (now splitsen)
Related formssplice·a·ble, adjectivere·splice, verb (used with object), re·spliced, re·splic·ing.un·der·splice, verb (used with object), un·der·spliced, un·der·splic·ing.un·spliced, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for splice

Historical Examples

  • He then ordered the purser's steward to splice the main-brace.

    Ned Myers

    James Fenimore Cooper

  • His last name had a splice in the middle of it—'twas Catesby-Stuart.

    Cape Cod Stories

    Joseph C. Lincoln

  • But he could neither hew spars, nor paint, nor splice ropes.

    Dr. Sevier

    George W. Cable

  • There 's scarce a snake of any size hasn't an emerald or splice of gold in him.

    Confessions Of Con Cregan

    Charles James Lever

  • Why didn't you splice and bring her along in the first place?

    Pocket Island

    Charles Clark Munn

British Dictionary definitions for splice

splice

verb (tr)
  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. (passive) informal to enter into marriagethe couple got spliced last Saturday
  5. splice the mainbrace 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
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Derived Formssplicer, noun

Word Origin

C16: probably from Middle Dutch splissen; related to German spleissen, Swedish splitsa; see split
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

Word Origin and History for splice

v.

1520s, originally a sailors' word, from Middle Dutch splissen "to splice," ultimately from PIE *(s)plei- "to split, splice" (see flint). The Dutch word was borrowed in French as épisser. Used of motion picture film from 1912; of DNA from 1975. Related: Spliced; splicing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
splice in Science

splice

[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. See also exon intron.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.