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

There were inch-wide gaps in the splintering wood and a tangle of weeds wrapped around it.

From Literature

She trained in classical arts—voice and dance—and common notions of beauty are present in her music, yet she seems equally determined to splinter her tracks into pieces via technology.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was so overrun with ivy that the windowpanes were splintering.

From Literature

And earlier this month, seven of those MPs splintered off from the party in protest at the authoritarian management of long-standing leader Wilders.

From Barron's

There are some things that really are beyond repair—a rusted pot with a splintered handle, a box of books so damaged by water they’re mildewed and hard to read.

From Literature

Related Words

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