/ splɪt; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( split·ting , split , split )
DIVIDE
1.
to divide, or to make a group of people divide, into smaller groups that have very different opinions :
[ vn ]
a debate that has split the country down the middle
[ v ]
The committee split over government subsidies.
2.
split (sth) (into sth) to divide, or to make sth divide, into two or more parts :
[ vn ]
She split the class into groups of four.
[ v ]
The results split neatly into two groups.
—see also split up
3.
[ vn ] split sth (between sb/sth) | split sth (with sb) to divide sth into two or more parts and share it between different people, activities, etc. :
She split the money she won with her brother.
His time is split between the London and Paris offices.
—see also split up
TEAR
4.
split (sth) (open) to tear, or to make sth tear, along a straight line :
[ v ]
Her dress had split along the seam.
[ v - adj ]
The cushion split open and sent feathers everywhere.
[ vn ]
Don't tell me you've split another pair of pants!
[also vn - adj ]
CUT
5.
split sth (open) to cut sb's skin and make it bleed :
[ vn - adj ]
She split her head open on the cupboard door.
[ vn ]
How did you split your lip?
END RELATIONSHIP
6.
[ v ] split (from / with sb) to leave sb and stop having a relationship with them :
The singer split with his wife last June.
She intends to split from the band at the end of the tour.
—see also split up
LEAVE
7.
[ v ] ( old-fashioned , informal ) to leave a place quickly :
Let's split!
•
IDIOMS
- split the difference
- split hairs
- split an infinitive
- split your sides (laughing / with laughter)
- split the ticket
—more at middle noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- split away / off (from sth) | split sth away / off (from sth)
- split on sb (to sb)
- split up (with sb)
- split sb up
- split sb up | split up
- split sth up
■ noun
DISAGREEMENT
1.
[ C ] split (between A and B) | split (with sb/sth) a disagreement that divides a group of people or makes sb separate from sb else :
a damaging split within the party leadership
the years following his bitter split with his wife
DIVISION
2.
[ sing. ] a division between two or more things; one of the parts that sth is divided into :
He demanded a 50–50 split in the profits.
TEAR / HOLE
3.
[ C ] a long crack or hole made when sth tears :
There's a big split in the tent.
BANANA DISH
4.
[ C ] a sweet dish made from fruit, especially a banana cut in two along its length, with cream, ice cream, etc. on top :
a banana split
BODY POSITION
5.
the splits [ pl. ] ( US also split [ sing. ]) a position in which you stretch your legs flat across the floor in opposite directions with the rest of your body vertical :
a gymnast doing the splits
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (originally in the sense break up a ship , describing the force of a storm or rock): from Middle Dutch splitten , of unknown ultimate origin.