/ ˈsplɪntə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
a small thin sharp piece of wood, metal, glass, etc. that has broken off a larger piece
SYN shard
■ verb
1.
( of wood, glass, stone, etc. ) to break, or to make sth break, into small, thin sharp pieces
SYN shatter :
[ v ]
The mirror cracked but did not splinter.
[ vn ]
The impact splintered the wood.
2.
[ v ] ( of a group of people ) to divide into smaller groups that are no longer connected; to separate from a larger group :
The party began to splinter.
Several firms have splintered off from the original company.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Middle Dutch splinter , splenter ; related to splint .