- Splitting
- Split Split (spl[i^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Split}
({Splitted}, R.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Splitting}.] [Probably of
Scand. or Low German origin; cf. Dan. splitte, LG. splitten,
OD. splitten, spletten, D. splijten, G. spleissen, MHG.
spl[=i]zen. Cf. {Splice}, {Splint}, {Splinter}.]
1. To divide lengthwise; to separate from end to end, esp. by
force; to divide in the direction of the grain or layers;
to rive; to cleave; as, to split a piece of timber or a
board; to split a gem; to split a sheepskin.
[1913 Webster]
Cold winter split the rocks in twain. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
2. To burst; to rupture; to rend; to tear asunder. [1913 Webster]
A huge vessel of exceeding hard marble split asunder by congealed water. --Boyle. [1913 Webster]
3. To divide or break up into parts or divisions, as by discord; to separate into parts or parties, as a political party; to disunite. [Colloq.] --South. [1913 Webster]
4. (Chem.) To divide or separate into components; -- often used with up; as, to split up sugar into alcohol and carbonic acid. [1913 Webster]
{To split hairs}, to make distinctions of useless nicety. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
