Divide
/dəˈvaɪd/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo separate something into smaller parts; to split or break apart.
/dəˈvaɪd/
To separate into parts or groups
The teacher divided the class into teams for the game.
💡 Simply: Imagine you have a pizza and your friend wants some. To *divide* it means to cut the pizza into slices so you can both have some! It's like sharing something.
👶 For kids: To divide means to split something into smaller parts, like sharing your toys.
More Examples
We need to divide the cost of the trip among us.
The river divides the city into two sections.
How It's Used
"We need to divide 10 by 2."
"The class was divided into groups for the project."
To perform a mathematical operation that determines how many times one number is contained in another.
/dəˈvaɪd/
To find the quotient of a number
Can you divide 20 by 4?
💡 Simply: If you have cookies and want to divide them between your friends, you're figuring out how many cookies each friend gets! It is to share equally.
👶 For kids: If you have some cookies and want to give them to your friends, you're dividing them.
More Examples
The teacher explained how to divide fractions.
We need to divide the total revenue by the number of sales.
How It's Used
"If you divide 10 by 5, you get 2."
To cause people to disagree with each other.
/dəˈvaɪd/
To cause disagreement or disunity
The issue of gun control continues to divide the nation.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, things can cause people to disagree or even argue, like when two teams are fighting and each wants to win.
👶 For kids: When something causes people to be against each other.
More Examples
Her harsh words served to divide the family.
The scandal divided the public.
How It's Used
"Political issues can sometimes divide communities."
"Arguments can often divide close friends."
A boundary that separates two areas or things.
/dəˈvaɪd/
A boundary or separation.
The river serves as the divide between the two countries.
💡 Simply: A *divide* is a line or a physical thing that separates two areas or things. For example, a river is often a divide, separating two sides.
👶 For kids: A line or place that splits something in two.
More Examples
The ridge acts as a continental divide for the waterways.
The geographical divide makes transport difficult.
How It's Used
"The mountain range forms a natural divide between the two regions."
Idioms & expressions
divide and conquer
A strategy used to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into smaller, more manageable units, which are then controlled individually.
"The general used a divide-and-conquer strategy to weaken the enemy's defenses."
From Latin *dīvidere*, meaning 'to force apart, distribute'. It entered English in the 14th century.
Historically used in both a literal (physical separation) and figurative (causing conflict) sense, tracing back to its Latin roots. References can be found in religious texts and early legal documents.
Memory tip
Imagine cutting a cake – you divide it into slices.
Word Origin
"to force apart, distribute"