/ dɪˈvaɪd; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
SEPARATE
1.
divide (sth) (up) (into sth) to separate or make sth separate into parts
SYN split up :
[ v ]
The cells began to divide rapidly.
[ vn ]
A sentence can be divided up into meaningful segments.
2.
[ vn ] divide sth (up / out) (between / among sb) to separate sth into parts and give a share to each of a number of different people, etc.
SYN share(out) :
Jack divided up the rest of the cash.
We divided the work between us.
3.
[ vn ] divide sth (between A and B) to use different parts of your time, energy, etc. for different activities, etc. :
He divides his energies between politics and business.
4.
[ vn ] divide A from B ( formal ) to separate two people or things :
Can it ever be right to divide a mother from her child?
5.
[ vn ] divide sth (off) | divide A from B to be the real or imaginary line or barrier that separates two people or things
SYN separate (off) :
A fence divides off the western side of the grounds.
6.
[ v ] ( of a road ) to separate into two parts that lead in different directions :
Where the path divides, keep right.
CAUSE DISAGREEMENT
7.
[ vn ] to make two or more people disagree
SYN split :
The issue has divided the government.
MATHEMATICS
8.
divide (sth) by sth to find out how many times one number is contained in another :
[ vn ]
30 divided by 6 is 5 (30 ÷ 6 = 5) .
[also v ]
9.
divide (sth) into sth to be able to be multiplied to give another number :
[ v ]
5 divides into 30 6 times.
[also vn ]
•
IDIOMS
- divide and rule
■ noun
[ usually sing. ]
DIFFERENCE
1.
divide (between A and B) a difference between two groups of people that separates them from each other :
the North / South divide
the divide between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland
BETWEEN RIVERS
2.
( especially NAmE ) a line of high land that separates two systems of rivers
SYN watershed
•
IDIOMS
see bridge verb
••
WORD FAMILY
divide verb noun
division noun
divisive adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (as a verb): from Latin dividere force apart, remove. The noun dates from the mid 17th cent.