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 Words From

• splinter·less adjective
• splinter·y adjective
• un·splintered 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

They pull splinters, trim and strip wire, reach things in small places, undo overtightened knots, and help perform many other small tasks we ask our multitools to help with.

From Outside Online

The wooden chalk bucket is so old that athletes get splinters if they dig their hands in too deep before hopping on the equipment.

From Washington Post

It handily sucked out a nearly invisible splinter from my partner’s hand, and its lightweight and compact nature means it’s easy to fit it into your pack or car for any adventures you have planned.

From Outside Online

This faction of the opposition is itself fractured into dozens of splinter groups.

From The Daily Beast

DS: I got a splinter of wood through my ear as some doors were exploding.

From The Daily Beast

While new open-carry groups pop up and old organizations splinter, the gun control movement has found strength in partnerships.

From The Daily Beast

A tornado does not just topple trees, it tears off their branches and twists their trunks until they splinter.

From The Daily Beast

The second lesson is that progressive movements all too often splinter among themselves, rather than uniting around common values.

From The Daily Beast

Over this we toasted bits of meat on the end of a splinter, and presently our hunger was appeased.

From Project Gutenberg

The second barrel was discharged with no better result, except that a splinter of its horn was knocked off.

From Project Gutenberg

Can be made from colorless acid by adding a splinter of pine, or allowing to stand in sunlight.

From Project Gutenberg

Using a pair of bullet-molds I managed to secure a grip on the ugly splinter and pull it out.

From Project Gutenberg

Two bullets went through the boy's hat; then a splinter cut through his clothes; still he did not flinch.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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