splinter

[splin-ter]

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.

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

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of splinter¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of splinter¹

C14: from Middle Dutch splinter; see _splint

Example Sentences

Pitchers build arm strength by pitching, not by growing splinters on their collective butts.

From Los Angeles Times

But Redford, who played baseball at Van Nuys High and was good enough to earn a college scholarship, was convincing as a ballplayer who fashioned his own bat from a tree splintered by lightning.

From Los Angeles Times

The stucco buildings in the town square are shattered from drone attacks, the trees along its avenues are broken and splintered.

From BBC

Further along the road, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, discrete piles of masonry and splintered metal mapped where each house or farm building once stood.

From BBC

There is talk among Phillipson's opponents of the need for votes to consolidate around a viable rival, rather than splinter in five different directions.

From BBC

Related Words

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