splinter

American  

[splin-ter] / ˈsplɪn tər /

noun

1. a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, or the like, split or broken off from the main body.

   Synonyms:

   sliver

2. splinter group.

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verb (used with object)

1. to split or break into splinters.

2. to break off (something) in splinters.

3. to split or break (a larger group) into separate factions or independent groups.

4. Obsolete. to secure or support by a splint or splints, as a broken limb.

verb (used without object)

1. to be split or broken into splinters.

2. to break off in splinters.

   Synonyms:

   split, part, separate

splinter British  

/ ˈsplɪntə /

noun

1. a very small sharp piece of wood, glass, metal, etc, characteristically long and thin, broken off from a whole

2. a metal fragment, from the container of a shell, bomb, etc, thrown out during an explosion

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verb

1. to reduce or be reduced to sharp fragments; shatter

2. to break or be broken off in small sharp fragments

Other Word Forms

• splinterless adjective
• splintery adjective
• unsplintered adjective

Etymology

Origin of splinter

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; splint

Example Sentences

Now this very coalition is splintering as his support spirals downward.

From Salon

From hosting streaming events at the Three Sisters pub in the capital, a splinter group has formed and they now attend ice hockey games together.

From BBC

I glance at the splintered television screen and wince.

From Literature

Icicles fell from the cave roof, smashing and splintering on the ground, and the ground itself shook.

From Literature

At least they’d be prepared for the next time, even if Glory did have to pull out two splinters from her palms.

From Literature

Related Words

• disintegrate
• fracture
• rive
• shatter
• smash
• split