split

¹ American  

[split] / splɪt /

verb (used with object)

split, splitting

1. to divide or separate from end to end or into layers.

   to split a log in two.

2. to separate by cutting, chopping, etc., usually lengthwise.

   to split a piece from a block.

3. to tear or break apart; rend or burst.

   The wind split the sail.

4. to divide into distinct parts or portions (often followed byup ).

   We split up the frosting into separate bowls and made each one a different color.

5. to separate (a part) by such division.

6. to divide (persons) into different groups, factions, parties, etc., as by discord.

   to split a political party.

7. to separate (a group, family, etc.) by such division.

8. to cast (a ballot or vote) for candidates of more than one political party.

9. to divide between two or more persons, groups, etc.; share.

   We split a bottle of wine.

10. to separate into parts by interposing something.

    to split an infinitive.

11. Physics, Chemistry. to divide (molecules or atoms) by cleavage into smaller parts.

12. to issue additional shares of (stock) to existing stockholders without charging them, thereby dividing their interest into a larger number of shares and reducing the price per share.

13. Slang. to leave; depart from.

    Let's split this scene.

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verb (used without object)

split, splitting

1. to divide, break, or part lengthwise.

   The board split in half.

2. to part, divide, or separate in any way (often followed byup ).

   The group of children split up into two teams. We'll split up here and meet later.

3. to break asunder, as a ship by striking on a rock.

4. to become separated, as a piece or part from a whole.

5. to part or separate, as through disagreement; sever relations.

   They split up after a year of marriage. He split with the company after a policy dispute.

6. to divide or share something with another or others; apportion.

7. Slang. to leave; depart.

noun

1. the act of splitting.

2. a crack, tear, or fissure caused by splitting.

3. a piece or part separated by or as by splitting.

4. a breach or rupture, as between persons, in a party or organization, etc.

5. a faction, party, etc., formed by a rupture or schism.

6. a banana split.

7. especially British, nip.  a bottle for wine or, sometimes, another beverage, containing from 6 to 6½ ounces (170 to 184 grams).

8. a bottle, as of soda, liquor, etc., which is half the usual size.

9. a strip split from an osier, used in basketmaking.

10. Masonry. a brick of normal length and breadth but of half normal thickness, used to give level support to a course of bricks laid over one not level.

11. Often splits the feat of separating the legs while sinking to the floor, until they extend at right angles to the body, as in stage performances or gymnastics.

12. the amount of time it takes to complete a portion of a race, as a leg of a relay race, a lap of a track, half of a marathon, etc..

    Our anchor faded over the last 50 meters of his split, and we missed the podium by six-tenths of a second.

13. Bowling. an arrangement of the pins remaining after the first bowl in two separated groups, so that a spare is difficult.

14. Philately. bisect.

15. one of the layers of leather into which a skin is cut.

16. stock split.

adjective

1. having been split; parted lengthwise; cleft.

2. disunited; divided.

   a split opinion.

3. (of a stock quotation) given in sixteenths instead of eighths of a point.

4. (of a stock) having undergone a split.

idioms

1. split hairs. hair.

2. split the difference. difference.

Split ² American  

[split] / splɪt /

noun

1. a seaport in S Croatia, on the Adriatic: Roman ruins.

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split ¹ British  

/ splɪt /

verb

1. to break or cause to break, esp forcibly, by cleaving into separate pieces, often into two roughly equal pieces

   to split a brick

2. to separate or be separated from a whole

   he split a piece of wood from the block

3. to separate or be separated into factions, usually through discord

4. (often foll by up) to separate or cause to separate through a disagreement

5. to divide or be divided among two or more persons

   split up the pie among the three of us

6. slang to depart; leave

   let's split

   we split the scene

7. (tr) to separate (something) into its components by interposing something else

   to split a word with hyphens

8. slang to betray the trust, plans, etc (of); inform

   he split on me to the cops

9. (tr) politics to mark (a ballot, etc) so as to vote for the candidates of more than one party

   he split the ticket

10. (tr) to separate (an animal hide or skin) into layers

11. to make a fine but needless distinction

12. to laugh very heartily

13. 1. to settle a dispute by effecting a compromise in which both sides give way to the same extent

    2. to divide a remainder equally

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noun

1. the act or process of splitting

2. a gap or rift caused or a piece removed by the process of splitting

3. a breach or schism in a group or the faction resulting from such a breach

4. a dessert of sliced fruit and ice cream, covered with whipped cream, nuts, etc

   banana split

5. See Devonshire split

6. 1. a separated layer of an animal hide or skin other than the outer layer

   2. leather made from such a layer

7. tenpin bowling a formation of the pins after the first bowl in which there is a large gap between two pins or groups of pins

8. informal an arrangement or process of dividing up loot or money

adjective

1. having been split; divided

   split logs

2. having a split or splits

   hair with split ends

Split ² British  

/ split /

noun

1. Italian name: Spalato.  a port and resort in W Croatia on the Adriatic: remains of the palace of Diocletian (295–305). Pop: 188 000 (2005 est)

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Other Word Forms

• presplit adjective
• splittable adjective
• splitter noun
• unsplit adjective
• unsplittable adjective

Etymology

Origin of split

First recorded in 1570–80; 1950–55 split for def. 13; from Dutch splitten; akin to splijten, German spleissen “to split”

Explanation

If you and your boyfriend split, you are no longer together. If your pants split, they come open at the seam. If both of these happen in the same day, split! (Get out of here!) Split means to come apart or rip in two. It can be used as a verb "let's split the apple in two" or as a noun "be careful to step over the split in the earth left by the quake." It implies some violence. When firemen split open your door, they need an axe to do it.

Example Sentences

Other questions: What happens if you split up?

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

Intertek launched a strategic review to potentially split its Energy & Infrastructure unit and appointed Steve Mogford as chairman.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

A Washington Post-Schar School poll conducted unusually early showed a nearly even split in the governor’s approval and disapproval ratings.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026

Its revenue split is 63% commercial and 37% residential.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

As the uranium 235 atoms in the fuel are split, their numbers begin to dwindle.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

Related Words

• break
• disband
• divide
• isolate
• open
• rip
• rive
• separate
• sever
• splinter
• tear