split
♦♦ split /spl'ɪt/ (splits splitting)
The form split is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle of the verb.
1 [VERB] V in/into n, V n in/into n, V n
If something splits or if you split it, it is divided into two or more parts.
In a severe gale the ship split in two...
If the chicken is fairly small, you may simply split it in half...
...uniting families split by the war.
2 [VERB] V, V n
If an organization splits or is split, one group of members disagrees strongly with the other members, and may form a group of their own.
Yet it is feared the Republican leadership could split over the agreement...
Women priests are accused of splitting the church.
[ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
Split is also an adjective.
The Kremlin is deeply split in its approach to foreign policy.
3 [N-COUNT]
A split in an organization is a disagreement between its members.
They accused both radicals and conservatives of trying to provoke a split in the party.
4 [N-SING] oft N between pl-n
A split between two things is a division or difference between them.
...a split between what is thought and what is felt.
5 [VERB] V, V n
If something such as wood or a piece of clothing splits or is split, a long crack or tear appears in it.
The seat of his short grey trousers split...
Twist the mixture into individual sausages without splitting the skins...
6 [N-COUNT]
A split is a long crack or tear.
The plastic-covered seat has a few small splits around the corners.
7 [VERB] V n, V n between pl-n
If two or more people split something, they share it between them.
I would rather pay for a meal than watch nine friends pick over and split a bill...
All exhibits are for sale, the proceeds being split between Oxfam and the artist.
see also splittingba|na|na split (banana splits)
[N-COUNT]
A banana split is a kind of dessert. It consists of a banana cut in half along its length, with ice cream, nuts, and sauce on top.split ends
[N-PLURAL]
If you have split ends, some of your hairs are split at the ends because they are dry or damaged.split in|fini|tive (split infinitives)
[N-COUNT]
A split infinitive is a structure in which an adverb is put between `to' and the infinitive of a verb, as in `to really experience it'. Some people think it is incorrect to use split infinitives.split off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n
If people split off from a group, they stop being part of the group and become separated from it.
Somehow, Quentin split off from his comrades.
...the Youth Wing which split off the National Liberal party earlier this year...split per|son|al|ity (split personalities)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that someone has a split personality, you mean that their moods can change so much that they seem to have two separate personalities.split se|cond
also split-second
[N-SING]
A split second is an extremely short period of time.
Her gaze met Michael's for a split second...split up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, V P with n
If two people split up, or if someone or something splits them up, they end their relationship or marriage.
Research suggests that children whose parents split up are more likely to drop out of high school...
I was beginning to think that nothing could ever split us up...
I split up with my boyfriend last year.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), V n P
If a group of people split up or are split up, they go away in different directions.
Did the two of you split up in the woods?...
This situation has split up the family...
Touring the album temporarily split the band up.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P, V P
If you split something up, or if it splits up, you divide it so that it is in a number of smaller separate sections.
Any thought of splitting up the company was unthinkable they said...
Even though museums have begged to borrow her collection, she could never split it up...
Her company has had to split up and work from two locations.
The form split is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle of the verb.
1 [VERB] V in/into n, V n in/into n, V n
If something splits or if you split it, it is divided into two or more parts.
In a severe gale the ship split in two...
If the chicken is fairly small, you may simply split it in half...
...uniting families split by the war.
2 [VERB] V, V n
If an organization splits or is split, one group of members disagrees strongly with the other members, and may form a group of their own.
Yet it is feared the Republican leadership could split over the agreement...
Women priests are accused of splitting the church.
[ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
Split is also an adjective.
The Kremlin is deeply split in its approach to foreign policy.
3 [N-COUNT]
A split in an organization is a disagreement between its members.
They accused both radicals and conservatives of trying to provoke a split in the party.
4 [N-SING] oft N between pl-n
A split between two things is a division or difference between them.
...a split between what is thought and what is felt.
5 [VERB] V, V n
If something such as wood or a piece of clothing splits or is split, a long crack or tear appears in it.
The seat of his short grey trousers split...
Twist the mixture into individual sausages without splitting the skins...
6 [N-COUNT]
A split is a long crack or tear.
The plastic-covered seat has a few small splits around the corners.
7 [VERB] V n, V n between pl-n
If two or more people split something, they share it between them.
I would rather pay for a meal than watch nine friends pick over and split a bill...
All exhibits are for sale, the proceeds being split between Oxfam and the artist.
see also splittingba|na|na split (banana splits)
[N-COUNT]
A banana split is a kind of dessert. It consists of a banana cut in half along its length, with ice cream, nuts, and sauce on top.split ends
[N-PLURAL]
If you have split ends, some of your hairs are split at the ends because they are dry or damaged.split in|fini|tive (split infinitives)
[N-COUNT]
A split infinitive is a structure in which an adverb is put between `to' and the infinitive of a verb, as in `to really experience it'. Some people think it is incorrect to use split infinitives.split off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n
If people split off from a group, they stop being part of the group and become separated from it.
Somehow, Quentin split off from his comrades.
...the Youth Wing which split off the National Liberal party earlier this year...split per|son|al|ity (split personalities)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that someone has a split personality, you mean that their moods can change so much that they seem to have two separate personalities.split se|cond
also split-second
[N-SING]
A split second is an extremely short period of time.
Her gaze met Michael's for a split second...split up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, V P with n
If two people split up, or if someone or something splits them up, they end their relationship or marriage.
Research suggests that children whose parents split up are more likely to drop out of high school...
I was beginning to think that nothing could ever split us up...
I split up with my boyfriend last year.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), V n P
If a group of people split up or are split up, they go away in different directions.
Did the two of you split up in the woods?...
This situation has split up the family...
Touring the album temporarily split the band up.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P, V P
If you split something up, or if it splits up, you divide it so that it is in a number of smaller separate sections.
Any thought of splitting up the company was unthinkable they said...
Even though museums have begged to borrow her collection, she could never split it up...
Her company has had to split up and work from two locations.