/split"awf', -of'/ , n.
1. the act of separating or splitting away from something else.
2. something that has split or has been split from something else.
3. Com. a process of reorganizing a corporate structure whereby the capital stock of a division or subsidiary of a corporation or of a newly affiliated company is transferred to the stockholders of the parent corporation in exchange for part of the stock of the latter. Cf. spin-off (def. 1), split-up (def. 3).
[ 1855-60; n. use of v. phrase split off ]