splinter
[ splin-ter ]
/ ˈsplɪn tər /
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.
QUIZZES
DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?
"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
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, adjectiveWords nearby splinter
splicing, spliff, spline, splint, splint bone, splinter, splinter group, splintery, split, split brain, split cane
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for splintery
British Dictionary definitions for splintery (1 of 2)
splintery
/ (ˈsplɪntərɪ) /
adjective
liable to produce or break into splinters
British Dictionary definitions for splintery (2 of 2)
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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