splice

[splahys]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR splice ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), spliced, splic·ing.

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

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

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

to join or unite.

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

Informal. to unite in marriage: They'll be spliced in June.

noun

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

the union or junction made by splicing.

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

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

Idioms

splice the main brace, Nautical.

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

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. 2019

Related Words for splice

graft, braid, wed, marry, plait, mesh, hitch, interlace, intertwine, yoke, mate, unite, tie, entwine, knit, weave, intertwist

Examples from the Web for splice

Historical Examples of splice

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)

to join (two ropes) by intertwining the strands

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

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

(passive) informal to enter into marriagethe couple got spliced last Saturday

splice the mainbrace nautical history to issue and partake of an extra allocation of alcoholic spirits

noun

a join made by splicing

the place where such a join occurs

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

Derived Formssplicer, noun

Word Origin for splice

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

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.

splice in Science

splice

[splīs]

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.