split
split
/splɪt/
divide
split something He was a member of the team that split the atom in 1932.
Split the coconut in half.
split something into something She split the class into groups of four.
Each chapter is split into two parts.
split into something The results split neatly into two groups.
Slate splits easily into thin sheets.
If the nail you use is too big, there's a chance that the wood will split.
Identical twins come from a single fertilized egg that splits in two.
2 transitive to divide something into two or more parts and share it between different people, activities, etc. split something with somebody She split the money she won with her brother.
split something The two men agreed to split the proceeds.
We share a house and split all the bills.
split something between A and B His time is split between the London and Paris offices.
Collocations
adverb
preposition
phrases
split something two, three, etc. ways
split the difference
split your time between something and something
3 intransitive, transitive to divide, or to make a group of people divide, into smaller groups that have very different opinions split on/over something The committee split over government subsidies.
split something His candidacy split the Republican vote.
split from something The sect split from the Mormon church more than a hundred years ago.
be split on/over something The party is deeply split on this issue.
The poll found the public evenly split on the issue.
The community was split down the middle on this.
tear
Her dress had split along the seam.
split something Don't tell me you've split another pair of pants!
split open The cushion split open and sent feathers everywhere.
split something open He split the packet open and poured out a handful of peanuts.
cut
5 transitive to cut somebody’s skin and make it bleed split something open She split her head open on the cupboard door.
She fell downstairs and split her head open.
split something How did you split your lip?
end relationship
6 intransitive (informal) to leave somebody and stop having a relationship with them split (with somebody) The singer split with his wife last June.
split (from somebody) She intends to split from the band at the end of the tour.
leave
intransitive (old-fashioned, informal) to leave a place quickly Let's split!
Idioms
split
/splɪt/
disagreement
1 countable an argument or disagreement that divides a group of people or makes somebody separate from somebody else Ten years after their acrimonious split, the band has reformed.
split in/within something a damaging split within the party leadership
The move threatened to cause a split in the movement.
split with somebody/something the years following his bitter split with his wife
split between A and B There have been reports of a split between the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
Collocations
adjective
verb + split
split + verb
preposition
split between
split insplit within…
tear/hole
2 countable a long opening made when something tears A blockage in the artery caused the split.
split in something There's a big split in the tent.
division
3 singular a division between two or more things; one of the parts that something is divided into He demanded a 50–50 split in the profits.
It's an even split; some love it, some hate it.
Collocations
adjective
body position
4 the splits plural (US English also split singular) a position in which you stretch your legs flat across the floor in opposite directions with the rest of your body sitting straight up a gymnast doing the splits
Word Origin
late 16th cent. (originally in the sense ‘break up a ship’, describing the force of a storm or rock): from Middle Dutch splitten, of unknown ultimate origin.
e.g.