splinter
[ splin-ter ]
/ ˈsplɪn tər /
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noun
a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, or the like, split or broken off from the main body.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to be split or broken into splinters.
to break off in splinters.
OTHER WORDS FOR splinter
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of splinter
1350–1400; Middle English <Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; cf. splint
OTHER WORDS FROM splinter
splin·ter·less, adjectivesplin·ter·y, adjectiveun·splin·tered, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use splinter in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for splinter
splinter
/ (ˈsplɪntə) /
noun
a very small sharp piece of wood, glass, metal, etc, characteristically long and thin, broken off from a whole
a metal fragment, from the container of a shell, bomb, etc, thrown out during an explosion
verb
to reduce or be reduced to sharp fragments; shatter
to break or be broken off in small sharp fragments
Word Origin for splinter
C14: from Middle Dutch splinter; see splint
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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