n. 1 the act or an instance of dividing; the process of being divided. 2 Math. the process of dividing one number by another (see also long division (see LONG(1)), short division). 3 disagreement or discord (division of opinion). 4 Parl. the separation of members of a legislative body into two sets for counting votes for and against. 5 one of two or more parts into which a thing is divided. 6 a major unit of administration or organization, esp.: a a group of army brigades or regiments. b Sport a grouping of teams within a league, usu. by ability. 7 a a district defined for administrative purposes. b Brit. a part of a county or borough returning a Member of Parliament. 8 a Bot. a major taxonomic grouping. b Zool. a subsidiary category between major levels of classification. 9 Logic a classification of kinds, parts, or senses. division of labour the improvement of efficiency by giving different parts of a manufacturing process etc. to different people. division sign the sign (*!) indicating that one quantity is to be divided by another. divisional adj. divisionally adv. divisionary adj.
[ ME f. OF divisiun f. L divisio -onis (as DIVIDE) ]