Splitting
'splɪtɪŋ
Definitions
2 meaningsTo divide or cause something to divide into parts or pieces.
'splɪtɪŋ
To divide or separate into parts
He's splitting the firewood.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're sharing a cookie. Splitting means you cut it in half or into smaller pieces so that everyone can have some!
👶 For kids: To break something into pieces.
More Examples
The company is splitting its profits.
They are splitting up after a long relationship.
How It's Used
"They are splitting the pizza."
"The company is splitting its shares."
"The team is splitting its time between training and recovery."
The act or process of dividing or separating something into parts.
'splɪtɪŋ
The act of dividing or separating
The splitting of the atom released enormous energy.
💡 Simply: It's like when you and your friend decide to take different paths. The 'splitting' is the moment you go your separate ways.
👶 For kids: When you make something go into pieces or apart.
More Examples
The splitting of the partnership was messy.
The company announced a stock split.
How It's Used
"The splitting of the couple was a sad event."
"The stock split resulted in more shares being available."
Synonyms
Breaking
Dividing
Separating
Break
Cleavage
Division
Separation
Idioms & expressions
split hairs
To argue or debate about small, unimportant details.
"Let's not split hairs about the exact wording; the meaning is clear."
split up
To end a romantic relationship or partnership; to separate into different groups.
"They decided to split up after ten years of marriage."
split the difference
To compromise by agreeing to something that is between two extremes or proposals.
"They were arguing about the price, but eventually decided to split the difference."
From Middle English *spliten*, from Old English *spltan* (“to split”), related to Dutch *splijten* and German *splißen*. The -i- vowel may be due to analogy with related words like *slit* and *splint*.
The word has been used in English since Old English times, with its meaning evolving from a physical act of division to more abstract uses, such as dividing opinions.
Memory tip
Imagine a log being split with an axe - the action divides it.