v.
(splits, splitting, split)
- break or cause to break forcibly into parts.
▸cause the fission of (an atom).
- divide or cause to divide into parts or groups.
▸
(often split up)
end a marriage or other relationship.
- informal (of one's head) suffer great pain from a headache.
-
(usu. split on)
Brit. informal betray the secrets of or inform on someone.
- informal leave, especially suddenly.
n.
- a tear, crack, or fissure.
- an instance of splitting or being split.
-
(the splits US also a split)
an act of leaping in the air or sitting down with the legs straight and at right angles to the body, one in front and the other behind, or one at each side.
- a split osier used in basketwork.
- a single thickness of split hide.
- N. Amer. a drawn match or series.
- each strip of steel or cane that makes up the reed in a loom.
- half a bottle or glass of champagne or other drink.
- the time taken to complete a recognized part of a race, or the point in the race where such a time is measured.
Phrase
- split the difference
take the average of two proposed amounts. - split one's sides
(N. Amer. also split a gut)
informal be convulsed with laughter. - split the ticket
(or one's vote)
US vote for candidates of more than one party. - split the vote
(of a candidate or minority party) attract votes from another candidate or party with the result that both are defeated by a third.
Derivative
Etymology
C16 (orig. in the sense ‘(of a storm or rock) break up a ship’): from MDu. splitten, of unknown ultimate origin.
