splitting

[ split-ing ]

/ ˈsplɪt ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR splitting ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

being split or causing something to split.

violent or severe, as a headache.

very fast or rapid.

noun

Usually splittings. a part or fragment that has been split off from something: Some cavemen made their smaller tools from the splittings of stone.

Nearby words

split-up, splits, splitsville, splittail, splitter, splitting, splitting adz, splitting field, splodge, sploosh, splore

Origin of splitting

First recorded in 1585–95; split + -ing², -ing¹

Related formsan·ti·split·ting, adjective

Definition for splitting (2 of 2)

split

[ split ]

/ splɪt /

verb (used with object), split, split·ting.

to divide or separate from end to end or into layers: to split a log in two.

to separate by cutting, chopping, etc., usually lengthwise: to split a piece from a block.

to tear or break apart; rend or burst: The wind split the sail.

to divide into distinct parts or portions (often followed by up): We split up our rations.

to separate (a part) by such division.

to divide (persons) into different groups, factions, parties, etc., as by discord: to split a political party.

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

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

to divide between two or more persons, groups, etc.; share: We split a bottle of wine.

to separate into parts by interposing something: to split an infinitive.

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

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

Slang. leave; depart from: Let's split this scene.

verb (used without object), split, split·ting.

to divide, break, or part lengthwise: The board split in half.

to part, divide, or separate in any way (often followed by up): The group of children split up into two teams. We'll split up here and meet later.

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

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

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.

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

Slang. to leave; depart.

noun

the act of splitting.

a crack, tear, or fissure caused by splitting.

a piece or part separated by or as by splitting.

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

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

an ice-cream dish made from sliced fruit, usually a banana, and ice cream, and covered with syrup and nuts.

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

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

a strip split from an osier, used in basketmaking.

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.

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.

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

Philately. bisect(def 5).

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

the act of splitting a stock.

adjective

that has undergone splitting; parted lengthwise; cleft.

disunited; divided: a split opinion.

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

(of a stock) having undergone a split.

Origin of split

1570–80; 1950–55 for def 13; < Dutch splitten; akin to splijten, German spleissen to split

Related formssplit·ta·ble, adjectivepre·split, adjectiveun·split, adjectiveun·split·ta·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for splitting

Again, the difference can seem subtle and sound more like splitting hairs, but the difference is important.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Fumbleroooohski…'” (39) “'Look at me, ungh, splitting my own seam, oohh… going deep.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In the early 2000s, after splitting with his wife of 20 years, Stephenson began devoting more time to his interest in art.
Why eBay Is an Art Forger’s Paradise|Lizzie Crocker|August 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If one or both ran, it would likely help Petri by splitting the conservative vote in a primary.
Tom Petri's Primary Challenge May Mark End Of Rockefeller Republicanism|Ben Jacobs|April 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Splitting from a bad spouse is accepted but a stigma remains about cutting out a damaging sibling or parent.
Should You Divorce Your Family After the Holidays?|Keli Goff|January 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"It's the meanest thing out,—that splitting on a pal," said the man who had been called Michael.
The Landleaguers|Anthony Trollope
Tapered iron wedges on the well-known mechanical principle, for splitting out blocks and for other similar purposes.
The Sailor's Word-Book|William Henry Smyth
I only want you to brush my hair; I've had a trying evening here, and I've a splitting headache.
Her Own Way|Clyde Fitch
The river was splitting into a dozen smaller streams, shaping out fanlike.
The Time Traders|Andre Norton
Finally by an effort he swore that his head was splitting, that he must return to Ischl.
Visionaries|James Huneker

British Dictionary definitions for splitting (1 of 3)

splitting

/ (ˈsplɪtɪŋ) /

adjective

(of a headache) intolerably painful; acute

(of the head) assailed by an overpowering unbearable pain

noun

psychoanal the Freudian defence mechanism in which an object or idea (or, alternatively, the ego) is separated into two or more parts in order to remove its threatening meaning

British Dictionary definitions for splitting (2 of 3)

Split

/ (Croatian split) /

noun

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

British Dictionary definitions for splitting (3 of 3)

split

/ (splɪt) /

verb splits, splitting or split

to break or cause to break, esp forcibly, by cleaving into separate pieces, often into two roughly equal piecesto split a brick

to separate or be separated from a wholehe split a piece of wood from the block

to separate or be separated into factions, usually through discord

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

(when tr, often foll by up) to divide or be divided among two or more personssplit up the pie among the three of us

slang to depart; leavelet's split; we split the scene

(tr) to separate (something) into its components by interposing something elseto split a word with hyphens

(intr usually foll by on) slang to betray the trust, plans, etc (of); informhe split on me to the cops

(tr) US politics to mark (a ballot, etc) so as to vote for the candidates of more than one partyhe split the ticket

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

split hairs to make a fine but needless distinction

split one's sides to laugh very heartily

split the difference

to settle a dispute by effecting a compromise in which both sides give way to the same extent
to divide a remainder equally

noun

the act or process of splitting

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

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

a dessert of sliced fruit and ice cream, covered with whipped cream, nuts, etcbanana split

See Devonshire split

a separated layer of an animal hide or skin other than the outer layer
leather made from such a layer

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

informal an arrangement or process of dividing up loot or money

adjective

having been split; dividedsplit logs

having a split or splitshair with split ends

Word Origin for split

C16: from Middle Dutch splitten to cleave; related to Middle High German splīzen; see splice

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for splitting (1 of 2)

split

1580s, from Middle Dutch splitten, from Proto-Germanic *spl(e)it- (cf. Danish and Frisian splitte, Old Frisian splita, German spleißen "to split"), from PIE *(s)plei- "to split, splice" (see flint).

Meaning "leave, depart" first recorded 1954, U.S. slang. Of couples, "to separate, divorce" from 1942. To split the difference is from 1715; to split (one's) ticket in the U.S. political sense is attested from 1842. Splitting image "exact likeness" is from 1880. Split screen is from 1953; split shift is from 1955; split personality first attested 1919. Split-level as a type of building plan is recorded from 1952. Split-second first attested 1884, in reference to a type of stopwatch with two second hands that could be stopped independently; adjectival meaning "occurring in a fraction of a second" is from 1946.

Word Origin and History for splitting (1 of 2)

split

1861 as the name of the acrobatic feat, from split (v.). Meaning "sweet dish of sliced fruit with ice cream" is attested from 1920, American English.

Medicine definitions for splitting (1 of 2)

splitting

[ splĭt′ĭng ]

n.

The chemical change in which a covalent bond in a molecule is cleaved, producing two or more simpler fragments.

Medicine definitions for splitting (2 of 2)

split

[ splĭt ]

v.

To divide from end to end or along the grain by or as if by a sharp blow; tear.

To break, burst, or rip apart with force; rend.

To separate; disunite.

To break apart or divide a chemical compound into simpler constituents.

splitting

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of splitting

Definition for splitting (2 of 2)

split

verb (used with object), split, split·ting.

verb (used without object), split, split·ting.

noun

adjective

Origin of split

Examples from the Web for splitting

British Dictionary definitions for splitting (1 of 3)

splitting

adjective

noun

British Dictionary definitions for splitting (2 of 3)

Split

noun

British Dictionary definitions for splitting (3 of 3)

split

verb splits, splitting or split

noun

adjective

Word Origin for split

Word Origin and History for splitting (1 of 2)

split

Word Origin and History for splitting (1 of 2)

split

Medicine definitions for splitting (1 of 2)

splitting

n.

Medicine definitions for splitting (2 of 2)

split

v.