splice

[ splahys ]

See synonyms for: splice spliced 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 about splice

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)

Other words from splice

splice·a·ble, adjective
re·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

Words Nearby splice

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

How to use splice in a sentence

The uni splice maintains its strength under strain when tied with 15- to 80-pound-test, but it tends to fail with lighter lines, especially if jolted suddenly.
The strongest fishing knots you can tie | By John Merwin/Field & Stream | March 2, 2021 | Popular-Science
Braid does not work well with a uni splice, as its skinny profile and slick coating tend to cause the knots to over-tighten and slip through instead of jamming.
The strongest fishing knots you can tie | By John Merwin/Field & Stream | March 2, 2021 | Popular-Science
Warning: the video is LONG and has an awkward splice in the middle where the Skype connection failed.
Iraq Plus 10: A Bloggingheads Conversation with Bob Wright | David Frum | March 21, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Sort of a combination grammar and punctuation problem, is what I call the “however comma splice.”
Ben Yagoda: How I Not Write Bad | Noah Charney | February 13, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Hands were sent aloft to fish the foreyard, and to knot and splice the most important parts of the running rigging.
The Missing Ship | W. H. G. Kingston

His fingers finally closed over the wire; he jerked it out and with it the splice tool.
Tight Squeeze | Dean Charles Ing
He got most of the strands of one end of wire shoved into a splice lug, and called it good enough.
Tight Squeeze | Dean Charles Ing
If he could splice the wire hanging in front of him, Valier would once more be in perfect shape.
Tight Squeeze | Dean Charles Ing
Then the splice was completed, and by evening we were under way for Cagayan, laying cable as we went.
A Woman's Journey through the Philippines | Florence Kimball Russel

British Dictionary definitions for splice

splice

/ (splaɪs) /

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 marriage: the 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

Origin of splice

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

Derived forms of splice

splicer, noun

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 splice

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.

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