n.
Pronunciation: d ə - ' vi-zh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French devision, from Latin division-, divisio, from dividere to divide
Date: 14th century
1 a : the act or process of dividing : the state of being divided b : the act, process, or an instance of distributing among a number : DISTRIBUTION c obsolete : a method of arranging or disposing (as troops)
2 : one of the parts or groupings into which a whole is divided or is divisible
3 : the condition or an instance of being divided in opinion or interest : DISAGREEMENT , DISUNITY <exploited the division s between the two countries>
4 a : something that divides, separates, or marks off b : the act, process, or an instance of separating or keeping apart : SEPARATION
5 : the mathematical operation of dividing something
6 a : a self-contained major military unit capable of independent action b : a tactical military unit composed of headquarters and usually three to five brigades c (1) : the basic naval administrative unit (2) : a tactical subdivision of a squadron of ships d : a unit of the U.S. Air Force higher than a wing and lower than an air force
7 a : a portion of a territorial unit marked off for a particular purpose (as administrative or judicial functions) b : an administrative or operating unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization
8 : the physical separation into different lobbies of the members of a parliamentary body voting for and against a question
9 : plant propagation by dividing parts and planting segments capable of producing roots and shoots
10 : a group of organisms forming part of a larger group specifically : a primary category of the plant kingdom in biological taxonomy that is typically equivalent to a phylum
11 : a competitive class or category (as in boxing or wrestling)
synonyms see PART
– di · vi · sion · al \ - ' vizh-n ə l, - ' vi-zh ə -n ə l \ adjective