splice

[splahys]

verb (used with object)

spliced, splicing 

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.

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.

splice

/ splaɪs /

verb

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. informal,  (passive) to enter into marriage

   the couple got spliced last Saturday

5. nautical history to issue and partake of an extra allocation of alcoholic spirits

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

splice

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.

2. See also exon intron

Other Word Forms

• splicer noun
• spliceable adjective
• resplice verb (used with object)
• undersplice verb (used with object)
• unspliced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of splice¹

1515–25; < earlier Dutch splissen (now splitsen )

Word History and Origins

Origin of splice¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. splice the main brace,

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

   2. to drink spirits.

Example Sentences

A compellingly sloppy tale, it splices together a half-dozen protagonists and no heroes — these six spiraling victims never grasp the full story behind the violence.

From Los Angeles Times

Routines are spliced into low-budget practical effects, gore and gags, inspired by other horror movies with fitness themes like “Death Spa,” “Body Melt” and “Killer Workout.”

From Los Angeles Times

The lawsuit said the paper "'cherry-picked' and altered communications stripped of necessary context and deliberately spliced to mislead".

From BBC

Over the following months the wood is cut, settled, rounded, spliced, planed, fitted with a brass tip and leather pad, sanded in nine different ways, oiled, and finally waxed, before being complete.

From BBC

The police video, spliced together from officers’ body-worn cameras and surveillance footage, showed confusion in the moments leading up to the incident, which left Lauren, 51, hospitalized with a gunshot wound.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• graft