split1 verbsplit2 noun
splitsplit1 /splɪt/ ●●● S2 W3 verb (past tense and past participle split, present participle splitting) 
WORD ORIGINsplit1
Origin:
1500-1600 Dutch splittenVERB TABLE
split
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | split |
| he, she, it | splits | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | split |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have split |
| he, she, it | has split | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had split |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will split |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have split |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am splitting |
| he, she, it | is splitting | |
| you, we, they | are splitting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was splitting |
| you, we, they | were splitting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been splitting |
| he, she, it | has been splitting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been splitting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be splitting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been splitting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Split the leek in half lengthwise, and cut it into 1/4-inch pieces.
- A metal tube split open in the steam generator of the nuclear power plant.
- At first, her earnings were split down the middle with her agent.
- Feelings about the war split the country right down the middle.
- For this exercise, I'm going to split the class into three groups.
- He split the company in half, and then sold both new companies to different buyers.
- He bent down and split his trousers.
- He said that the land should be split between his four sons.
- His head was split open in the accident.
- Hudson's coat had split right up the back.
- I think we should split whatever we get four ways.
- Rutherford first split the atom on 3rd January 1919.
- She learned to split logs and stack a woodpile.
- The back of the chair had split in two.
- The class split into two. Half of us went to the museum and half to the cathedral.
- The debate over the use of military force has split legal scholars.
- The US is hoping to split the cost of developing the new plane with Japan.
- The window frames are old and the wood is starting to split.
- These shoes are so old the canvas had split.
- They planned to rob a bank, split the money, and leave the country.
- About a mile in, the canyon splits.
- Highly monochromatic laser light is split by the mirror M to travel along the two arms.
- My father and Mr Calder agreed to split the cost of repairs to the Wrights' car.
- The more l-e spoke, the more he felt he was softly split in two.
- The plague spreads: more atoms split, and then yet more.
- This phrase always intrigued Bob; as if the speaker could split herself in two, providing a doppelganger companion.
- Typical projects are expected to be split fairly evenly between hardware, software and services.
THESAURUSto break something
verb [transitive] to damage something and make it separate into pieces, for example by dropping it or hitting it: · Careful you don’t break the chair.· He broke his leg.
verb [transitive] to break something with a lot of force: · A policeman smashed his camera.
verb [transitive] to break something into two pieces, making a loud noise – used especially about long thin objects: · He snapped the sticks in two.
verb [transitive] to separate something into two pieces along a straight line: · Using a sharp knife, split the melon in half.
verb [transitive] to damage a bone, especially so that a line appears on the surface: · I fell over and fractured my wrist.
verb [transitive] to damage paper or cloth by pulling it so that it separates into pieces: · She tore up the letter and put it in the bin.· I tore my jacket.
to become broken verb [intransitive] to become damaged and separate into pieces: · Plastic breaks quite easily.
verb [intransitive] to break after being hit with a lot of force: · The bowl smashed as it hit the floor.
verb [intransitive] to break into a lot of small pieces: · The glass shattered all over the pavement.
verb [intransitive] if something cracks, a line appears on the surface, which means that it could later break into separate pieces: · The ice was starting to crack.
verb [intransitive] if a tyre, balloon, pipe etc bursts, it gets a hole and air or liquid suddenly comes out of it: · She blew up the balloon until it burst.
verb [intransitive] to break in a straight line: · The damp had caused the wood to split.
verb [intransitive] to break into a powder or a lot of small pieces: · The cork just crumbled in my hand.
to make something separate verb [transitive] to divide something into two or more parts or groups, or to divide one type of thing from another. You use separate especially when saying that the parts are different from each other: · Motorola is planning to separate the company into two public companies.· The items are separated into recyclable and non-recyclable waste.
verb [transitive] to make something become two or more parts or groups: · The teacher divided us into groups.· The money was divided between them.· The house is divided into three apartments.
verb [transitive] to separate something into two or more groups, parts etc – used especially when each part is equal in size: · The class was split into groups of six.
phrasal verb [transitive] to separate something into several smaller parts, especially to make it easier to deal with: · The phone company was broken up to encourage competition.· Police used tear gas to break up the crowd.
verb [transitive] to separate one group of people from others because of race, sex, religion etc: · Schools were racially segregated.· Some prisons segregate prisoners who are infected with HIV.
to become separate verb [intransitive] to divide into different parts, especially in a natural way: · A watery liquid separates from the milk during cheesemaking.
verb [intransitive] to separate into two or more parts or groups – used especially when each part is equal in size: · What happens when an atom splits?
phrasal verb [intransitive] to separate into several smaller parts: · In spring, the icebergs begin to break up.
to damage paper or cloth by pulling it too hard, or letting it touch something sharp: · She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper.· I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.
to tear something quickly or violently: · Beth excitedly ripped open the package.· Stop pulling my dress! You’ll rip it!
to tear your trousers or shirt when you put them on, because they are too tight for you: · He bent down and split his trousers.· Oh no, now I’ve split my shirt.
British English if a woman ladders her tights or stockings, she tears them so that a long thin line appears in them: · Damn! I’ve laddered my tights!
to catch a piece of clothing on something rough or sharp so that it tears slightly: · I snagged my shirt on a nail.
to deliberately destroy letters, documents etc by cutting them into thin pieces, often by using a special machine: · In order to prevent fraud, it’s best to shred your bank statements.· I went through all my papers shredding things I didn’t need.
torn a little along the edges – used about clothes, carpets etc that have been used a lot: · He was wearing an old pair of frayed jeans.· The rug was a little frayed around the edges.· The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs.
Longman Language Activatorto argue about something very unimportant to argue noisily about something that is not really important -- use this especially about children or when you think someone is behaving like a child: · Oh, for goodness sake, stop squabbling, you two!squabble about/over: · The kids always squabble about who should do the dishes.
to continually argue about something unimportant in a way that annoys other people: · Whenever we go shopping together we always start bickering.bicker about/over: · The mayor and the town council spent most of Thursday bickering over how to balance next year's budget.
to argue in an annoying way about unimportant details, especially about whether something is exactly correct: · She said I owed her twenty dollars. I thought it was twenty-five but I wasn't going to quibble.quibble over: · Why quibble over whose turn it is to buy lunch? Split it, and forget about it.
to say that there is a difference between two things and argue about this, when really the difference is too small to be important: · Batard is a little sweeter than Chevalier but perhaps that's splitting hairs; both these wines are excellent.
to break into two pieces · The ship broke in two when it ran aground, and 900 tons of fuel oil leaked out.· When I pulled at the board, it broke in two and fell down.
if something snaps , especially something long and thin, it breaks into two pieces making a short loud noise: · A twig snapped under his foot.· Power lines snapped in the high winds.· One of the strings on my guitar snapped when I was tuning it.snap off: · The tip of the Christmas tree snapped off when it fell.
if wood, bone etc splits , it breaks into two parts along a straight line: · The window frames are old and the wood is starting to split.· When it crashed, the plane's fuselage split behind the wings.split in two/half: · The back of the chair had split in two.split open (=split so that there is a hole): · A metal tube split open in the steam generator of the nuclear power plant.
to break something into two pieces to break something into two, fairly equal pieces: · The explosion broke the ship in two.· David broke the chocolate bar in half and gave a piece to Sue.
to break something, usually a long thin object, so that it makes a sudden, short loud noise: · He hit a rock and snapped the truck's axle.· High winds snapped power lines in the city, leaving more than 9000 people without power.snap something in two/in half: · He accidentally snapped his putter in half during one tournament.snap off: · The tip of the tree snapped off when it fell.
to break something such as wood into two parts along a straight line: · She learned to split logs and stack a woodpile.split something in two/in half: · Split the leek in half lengthwise, and cut it into 1/4-inch pieces.
when members of a group disagree with each other if a group of people is divided or split over something, some of them support one opinion and others support a completely different one: be divided/split over/on: · The country's leaders appear to be split on the question of tax cuts.· Foreign aid agencies were split over whether to resume their operations in the troubled country.
disagreement among the members of a group that causes it to separate into smaller groups, each with a different opinion: · There are signs of growing division within the administration about the best strategy to adopt.division over: · There was a deep division in the Republican Party over policy on Central America.
a serious disagreement that divides an organization or group into two smaller groups: · There is great danger of a split in the party if a competent leader is not found soon.split over: · There is a deep split in the country over the best way to move forward the peace process.
a serious disagreement that divides a group for a very long time or prevents two people or organizations from continuing to live or work together: · It took a good five years for the rift within the party to mend.rift between: · The family arguments finally caused a rift between the mother and daughter that has not yet healed.
to cause disagreement · The issue of organ cloning has given rise to some disagreement among doctors.· It was Garcia's plan to redistribute land that caused the most disagreement.· His speech is bound to lead to some disagreement, but I think most people will accept it.
to cause strong disagreement among a group of people so that they separate and form different groups with different opinions: · The election campaign was bitter, dividing the city.· The issue dividing the Church was the question of women priests.
to cause strong disagreement among a group of people so that it is divided into two smaller groups - use this especially about political groups or political ideas: · When the book appeared just before the end of the century, it almost split the feminist movement.split the country/party etc down the middle (=split it into two equal and opposing groups): · Feelings about the war split the country right down the middle.
to get divorced to legally end your marriage: · My parents got divorced last year.· Before getting divorced, you should think carefully about the effect it will have on the children.
if someone divorces their husband or wife, or if two people divorce, they legally end their marriage: · Finally, after years of unhappy marriage, Eva divorced Stanley.· He kept promising her that he would divorce his wife, but he never actually did it.· Petra's parents divorced when she was about seven years old.
the legal process of ending a marriage: · I've only seen my ex-wife once since the divorce.· Gwen has just been through a bitter divorce.get a divorce: · It's much too easy to get a divorce nowadays.ask (somebody) for a divorce: · Caroline's husband asked her for a divorce and she agreed.end in divorce: · A third of all marriages in Britain end in divorce.divorce rate (=the number of divorces each year): · The divorce rate has risen steadily since the 1950s.
if a husband and wife separate , they no longer live together, usually because they intend to get divorced: · Linda and George have only been married for a year and they're already thinking of separating.· Anne and I separated for three months, but we are now together again.
informal if two people split up , they end their marriage or they stop having a romantic relationship: · They're always arguing but I don't think they'll ever split up.split up with: · Have you heard? Katie's splitting up with Andrew!
to separate something into two or more parts · This is a technique used to separate the components of a mixture.separate something into something · He sat at a desk, separating a pile of mail into "urgent' and "non-urgent'.
to separate something into a number of separate parts or things: divide something into something: · We divided the pizza into three and had a slice each.· Some of the big old houses have been divided into apartments.divide up something/divide something up: · He said that dividing up the company would make the units more profitable.
to separate something that used to be a single thing or a single group into two or more different parts: · Rutherford first split the atom on 3rd January 1919.split something in half/in two (=so that it makes two equal parts): · He split the company in half, and then sold both new companies to different buyers.split something into something (=into two, three etc parts): · For this exercise, I'm going to split the class into three groups.
to separate something into several smaller parts: break up something: · The police were attacked as they tried to break up the crowd.break something up: · If you have to give a long explanation, try to break it up.break something up into something: · You can break a subject up into sections and guide your learners through it one section at a time.
to separate something such as a report or a job into parts, especially in order to make it easier to understand or easier to do: break down something: · Try to break down the calculation and get the students to do it in stages.break something down: · If you find a piece of music hard to play, break it down into small sections and practise each one slowly.
to separate a machine, piece of equipment etc into parts: take something apart: · He'd shown her how to take a gun apart and clean it.take apart something: · He spends his time taking apart old clocks and watches.
to separate a large or complicated machine into parts, for example so that it can no longer be used or in order to make it easier to move, repair etc: · Jimmy was in the garage, dismantling his bike.· The first thing the soldiers did was to dismantle the enemy's surveillance equipment.
to separate something into pieces, especially in order to check for a fault or to clean it: · He took the toy to pieces to find out how it worked.· The parcel contained a gun that had been taken to pieces.
to become separated into two different parts to become separated into different parts, usually in a natural way: · Hair conditioner helps your curls to separate.separate into: · The whole process separates quite naturally into three smaller stages.· As the milk turns sour, it separates into thick curds and watery liquid.separate from: · At this point, the satellite separates from its launcher.
to become separated into two or more parts or groups: · What happens when an atom splits?split into: · The class split into two. Half of us went to the museum and half to the cathedral.· When you electrolyse water it splits into hydrogen and oxygen.
to separate into several smaller parts: · In spring the icebergs begin to break up.· The crowd broke up slowly.break up into: · Eventually, the old ruling group broke up into a number of political parties.
if something is in pieces , it has been separated into pieces: · The table Alan was supposed to have put together was still in pieces when I arrived home.· Within a few minutes he had the car engine in pieces on the garage floor.
if something comes to pieces , it is designed so that it can be broken into its separate parts without being damaged: · The bed comes to pieces, so we can fit it in the car.
to deliberately separate yourself from another person, group etc to deliberately separate yourself from a larger group or organization, especially because you no longer want to work with them: · Last year, he split from the rock band, "Hot City'.· The left wing of the party is likely to split from its parent organization.
to deliberately separate yourself from a group of people, usually permanently, because you want to be alone or independent: · She had cut herself off, and when David left her she had no one to turn to.cut yourself off from: · Quite deliberately, she cut herself off from the rest of the family.
to formally and permanently end a relationship with another person, company, country etc: · Throughout the seventies, the government was urged to sever all links with South Africa.· Tobolewski, like many immigrants into America, severed all his ties with his Polish background.
to deliberately separate yourself from a person, organization etc, because you do not want people to think you are connected with it or are responsible for something that they are doing: · The government is seeking to detach itself from the latest financial scandal.· Diplomats saw his resignation as a way of distancing himself from an unpopular government.
to divide something so that two or more people get a part of it to divide something so that several people have a part of it: · We agreed that we would share the prize money if we won.share something among/between somebody: · She shared the cake between the children.share out something: · Profits from the sale of tickets were shared out among the members of the band.share something out: · We'll share what's left out between the three of us.
if a small number of people split something, especially money, they divide it into equal parts and take a part each: · They planned to rob a bank, split the money, and leave the country.split something among/between somebody: · He said that the land should be split between his four sons.split something two/three/four etc ways (=to divide something between two, three etc people): · I think we should split whatever we get four ways.
to separate something into two or more parts: divide something between somebody: · Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Poland between them.divide up something/divide something up between somebody: · We divided up the rest of the pie between us.divide up something/divide something up: · Have you decided how you're going to divide up the money?
to share something such as wealth or power among different people, groups, or organizations: · We must try to distribute the country's wealth so that we help those who need it most.· The party's aim is to distribute power more evenly among the people.
to share something, especially money, in a different way from before, so that more people have a fair share of it: · The socialists are committed to redistributing wealth.· The tax will be collected nationally and the money raised will be redistributed to local authorities.
if two or more people, organizations, or countries carve something up , especially land or a company belonging to someone else, they divide it into separate parts and share it between them: carve up something: · The British and French carved up the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I.carve something up: · The two companies wanted to acquire the business and carve it up.
to share the cost of something · We pay rent separately, but we share the other bills.· It's only fair that they should share the running costs of the car.
to share the cost of something between two people or groups: split something between/with somebody: · We decided to split the bill between us.· The US is hoping to split the cost of developing the new plane with Japan.split something down the middle (=each person pays half): · At first, her earnings were split down the middle with her agent.
if two people go halves , they each pay half of the cost of something they are buying together: · If the wine is expensive, we can go halves.go halves with somebody (on something): · Why don't you go halves with him on the cost of the trip?
to damage paper, cloth, or clothing to damage paper, cloth, or clothing by pulling it too hard, or by letting it touch something sharp: · She unwrapped the present carefully, trying not to tear the paper.tear something on something: · I had torn the knees of my jeans on the rough gravel.tear something out/tear out something: · She tore a page out of her diary and wrote her phone number on it.tear something off/tear off something: · The attendant tore off the parking ticket and handed it back.tear something open/tear open something: · Peterson tore open the envelope.tear a hole in something: · I tore a hole in my jacket, climbing over the fence.tear something in half: · He took my ticket and tore it in half. "Row J, seats 8 and 9."
to tear something quickly or violently: · Stop pulling my dress! You'll rip it!rip something out/rip out something: · You can see where the label has been ripped out.rip something on something: · I ripped my skirt on a broken chair.rip something open/rip open something: · Beth excitedly ripped open the package.
British if a woman ladders her tights or stockings, she accidentally tears them so that a line of stitches becomes loose: · Damn! I've laddered my tights!
if you split your trousers, a long straight tear appears in them when you bend over or when you try to put on a pair that is too tight: · He bent down and split his trousers.
to become torn accidentally · My jacket caught on a nail and tore.· Don't pull on the cloth, it will tear.tear easily · Be careful, the paper tears easily.
to become badly torn, especially as the result of a sudden movement: · Tom heard his shorts rip as he climbed over the gate.· My zipper was stuck, and the material around it ripped as I pulled on it.
if material splits , a long straight tear appears in it: · Hudson's coat had split right up the back.· These shoes are so old the canvas had split.
WORD SETSagitate, verbagitation, nounagitator, nounbipartisan, adjectivebipartite, adjectivebloc, nounBolshevik, nouncapitalism, nouncentrist, adjectivecoalition, nouncommie, nouncommunism, nouncommunist, nouncommunist, adjectiveCon, confederacy, nounconfederate, nounconfederation, nouncongress, nounconservatism, nounDem., disloyal, adjectivedissident, noundivide, verbdivisive, adjectivefascism, nounfascist, nounfederal, adjectivefederate, verbfederation, nounfront, nounginger group, nounhegemony, nounheterodox, adjectiveIndependent, nouninfighting, nouninterest group, nounIRA, nounIron Curtain, the, Lab, Labour, nounleftie, nounleftist, adjectiveleft-of-centre, adjectiveleft-wing, adjectivelefty, nounLib Dem, nounLiberal, nounLiberal Democrats, nounLiberal Party, loyalist, nounLuddite, nounmachine, nounmajority leader, nounminority leader, nounmoderate, adjectivemoderate, nounmonarchist, nounmovement, nounnationalism, nounnationalist, adjectivenationalist, nounNazi, nounneutral, adjectivenon-partisan, adjectivepalace revolution, nounparamilitary, adjectivepartisan, adjectivepartisan, nounparty, nounparty political, adjectiveparty politics, nounpinko, nounpro-, prefixpro-choice, adjectiveR, rabble-rousing, nounradical, nounrally, nounreactionary, adjectiverealign, verbrebel, nounrebellion, nounrebellious, adjectivered, adjectivered, nounrepublican, nounrevolt, nounrevolt, verbrevolutionary, adjectiverevolutionary, nounrightist, adjectiveright-of-centre, adjectiveright-wing, adjectiveroyalist, nounseparatist, nounspecial interest group, nounsplinter group, nounsplit, verbsubcommittee, nounsubversion, nounsuffragette, nounsympathizer, nounsympathy, nountendency, nounTory, nounTrotskyite, nountrue-blue, adjectiveUnionist, nounuprising, nounWhig, nounwing, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
The government appears deeply split on this issue. The war has split the nation in two. One of the boxes had split open. The board had split in two. Split the pineapple down the middle. We agreed to split the cost. She fell against a table and split her lip. The force of the blow nearly split his head open.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The companies split the profits fifty-fifty. The committee was split along party lines.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
The government appears deeply split on this issue. The war has split the nation in two. One of the boxes had split open. The board had split in two. Split the pineapple down the middle. (=share something between three, four etc people or groups) The money will have to be split three ways.
The money will have to be split three ways. We agreed to split the cost. She fell against a table and split her lip. The force of the blow nearly split his head open.· The exhibition of 360 paintings is divided into three categories.
The companies split the profits fifty-fifty. (=stop having a romantic relationship)
· The old man’s face broke into a grin.
(=the members decide not to play together anymore)· The group split up because of ‘musical differences’.
· Divide the dough in half.
(=a very bad headache)· The next day he woke up with a splitting headache.
The committee was split along party lines.· The row over Rekyavik's application almost split the organisation in half.· She gave me a great, gummy grin which almost split her face in two.· The ensuing rows almost split the western alliance.
· The graduate's skull split apart into four pieces like a coconut.· A brother and sister are split apart, and his identity gets swallowed up in an institution.· There was a muffled explosion, and the air beside the sergeant seemed to split apart.· Single-issue, factional politics has split apart the parties' traditional coalitions.· After Beethoven, the two split apart.· He felt his chest chopped down and split apart.· In the post-war world the fireside has been split apart, indeed subsumed to the kitchen.· The old plates split apart, usually along a line running down the back, and the insect hauls itself out.
· Scientists were deeply split on the uses to which the discoveries of atomic physics were being put.
· I understand that our fee will be split equally between both parties.· Your income will be added together and any benefit entitlement will be split equally between you.· For three years he would supply funds to run the farm, any profits being split equally between Tom and himself.
· There also seems to be agreement that our new Congress will be more evenly split, and thus dysfunctional.· Only in the old industrial states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island was opinion evenly split on this issue.· In fact, the original version is virtually split evenly into two blocks of Orientation and Complicating Action.· On the issue of abortion rights, Texans split evenly with 46 percent favoring abortion rights and 46 percent opposing abortion.· Parents typically equate fairness with equality, seeking to evenly split the wealth they bequeath among their offspring.· They surveyed 1, 598 organizations in 40 different industries about evenly split between manufacturing and the service sector.· Other more constructive workers split evenly between those favoring casual and those preferring declared.· Democratic party rules require that state delegations to the convention be split evenly between men and women.
· Military sources said the unarmed plane split off from another MiG during a training flight east of the Golan Heights.· It was founded after the Price family split off from the merged company.· As the phrase suggests, a main trunk of cables splits off into branches which supply individual subscribers.· We split off into three groups now and Betsy Bass Shands became our guide.· In the breeding season pairs split off from the social group and make a rough platform nest for two white eggs.· One platoon splits off and marches toward the crowd, their bayoneted rifles set at a 45-degree angle.· After syndication, these warrants can be split off from the bond and traded separately.· Two split off and went in a southerly direction.
· Even the girl's parents were split over the use of her case in Tuesday's broadcast.· Cabinet and scientific opinion is split over the issue.· On the face of it, it is hardly promising that the soft left has immediately split over the post of deputy.· Ministers could also face congregations split over questions of finance, doctrine or politics - the last especially after 1886.· A large stitch pattern template will automatically be correctly split over the appropriate number of Mylar sheets when necessary.
· Lots of big companies tied the knot, while some huge ones split up.· Tony talked about his ex-girlfriend and then remembered how upset he had become when his parents split up when he was 14.· This year, they split up.· When my parents split up they didn't know what to do with me.· They split up for a while and then reunited to search for the items on the last few cards.· We even split up for a while.· We had split up all the household chores that way: a week on and a week off.
NOUN· Its loss-making state rail network was split into six geographically-based companies and one freight company in 1987.· Though the group split from the company in 1969, the strong pro-pharmaceutical spirit lingers.· Most cuts will come in 1996 as the telecommunications giant prepares to split into three companies.
· In many cases, couples sharing a mortgage are likely to split the costs in half.· My father and Mr Calder agreed to split the cost of repairs to the Wrights' car.· All you need is enthusiastic, if affluent, friends to split the £3,150 cost for the day.· Afterward, the city and the port would split the cost of disposing the ground water.· Another idea is to split the cost of radio adverts.· Our parents split the cost of our tuition and housing.
· He has refused, arguing that a definitive legal answer would split the country irrevocably.· He claimed it was part of a plot to split his country so the West could control its oil supplies.· This would split the country, it might even split the party.
· Even those who attempt to split the difference are not too fussy about where the line is drawn.· Ross proposed that they split the difference and suggested a date in 1998.· We decided that I would live and split the difference between then and a projected now.· Now let me see if I can split the difference.
· She gave me a great, gummy grin which almost split her face in two.· A smile split Ember's face.
· Parliament is split into factions with no single group in the majority.· At this congress the delegates split into two factions.
· But parents have criticised the plans and are worried that rezoning could split their families to different schools.
· His father died, he lost his job and he split up with his girlfriend, Darlington magistrates heard.
· From there the various groups would split up and make their way individually.· California and Cassidy reunited Spirit in 1974, but after three albums in three years, the group split up.· A group that threatens to split the Wimbledon Dharjees right down the middle!· Though the group split from the company in 1969, the strong pro-pharmaceutical spirit lingers.· There was no truth in rumours of a group split.· There are organisational problems in allowing the group to split into two such distinct factions.· On Wednesday and Thursday, when we also have day students, the group will be split.
· This too was split in half by the storm.· The sword splits the tree in half and Adonis tumbles out.· Under the agreement Mondadori was to be split into roughly equal halves, each worth around US$800 million.· Beyond them the world was split cleanly in halves between sea and sky.· He says that the tree is split into two halves.
· Cabinet and scientific opinion is split over the issue.· The Roosevelt family is split on the issue.· The judges in Strasbourg split 5-4 on the issue.· Only in the old industrial states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island was opinion evenly split on this issue.· On Tuesday, it appeared that there might be enough votes to split the two issues.· Courts are split on this issue.
· We split you down the middle.· Those whose main interest was Soviet Jewry were split down the middle.· Until the motion was tabled, the 480-seat lower house of parliament appeared to be split down the middle.· But initial reactions aren't always right and it seems to me that people are split down the middle.
· Both the main parties were split with Labour more favourable to television than the Conservatives.· The second issue is how - no longer whether - the party will split.· A unified Democratic party versus an ideologically split Republican party.· He split and mortally wounded the Labour Party.· A year later, in May of 1741, the two parties of Presbyterians split.· On his return to Ireland the party split.· Opponents of the deal say they intend to fight on, and there are fears that the party could be split.
· Next day 249 Squadron was split into two sections, one half commanded by Barton and one by Neil.· Five worlds split into several sections is certainly enough to keep you burning the midnight oil.· The slopes of Obergurgl are split into two sections, accessible to each other only by bus.
· A normal, loose-fitting skirt can be split up the side and fitting with a Velcro fastening.· The base split from side to side but fortunately the water only seeped out.· A tall barrel had split its sides, gaped.· It was at this point that I left to seek medical help for fear I would split my sides.
· Workers are split into teams and encouraged to discuss problems in the evenings and at weekends.· We were split into two separate teams and taken into the play area.· The points for a drawn game should be split based on the team scoring the most tries.
· Voight and I split the vote.· The chamber's two independents split their votes.· Her great threat to the Howard government is to split the conservative vote three ways.· Such individuals split their vote fairly evenly between Democratic and Republican candidates in 1982, but not in 1994.· A new Green Party, therefore, could potentially split the liberal vote and prove a boon to the Republicans.· In 1906 he stood for North Lambeth, where he split the Liberal vote and came third.
VERB· Under the Bill, courts will have the power to decide how to split a pension.· They decided to split into subgroups around each of the three initiatives, and went to work.· He decided to split the party, sending Mayne to attack this new target, while he dealt with Sirte itself.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► split something ↔ off► split something ↔ upPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a split second► split something two/three etc ways
1disagree [intransitive, transitive] if a group of people splits, or if it is split, people in the group disagree strongly with each other and the group sometimes divides into separate smaller groups: - Their offer is only about $500 dollars less than we're asking, so we'll probably just split the difference.
- Even those who attempt to split the difference are not too fussy about where the line is drawn.
- Now let me see if I can split the difference.
- Ross proposed that they split the difference and suggested a date in 1998.
- We decided that I would live and split the difference between then and a projected now.
- A tall barrel had split its sides, gaped.
- It was at this point that I left to seek medical help for fear I would split my sides.
- Batard is a little sweeter than Chevalier but perhaps that's splitting hairs; both these wines are excellent.
- Let's stop splitting hairs and get back to the main issue.
- But I don't want to split hairs.
- If the momentum picks up, conventional politics could be torn asunder.
- In 1964, the Republican Party was torn asunder by the nomination of conservative Barry Goldwater.
- The veils are parting, the mists are rent asunder.
- This unity was to be rent asunder by changes in technology and by the impact of the Modern Movement in architecture.
- The vote was split right down the middle.
- We split you down the middle.
It was feared that the issue would split the church.be split on/over something The party is split over the issue of immigration. The government appears deeply split on this issue.split from The Pan-Africanist Congress split from the ANC in 1959.split something in two/down the middle The war has split the nation in two.► see thesaurus at break, separate, tear2separate into parts (also split up) [intransitive, transitive] to divide or separate something into different parts or groups, or to be divided into different parts or groupssplit into Can you split into groups of three now?split something into something The book is split into six sections.3break or tear [intransitive, transitive] if something splits, or if you split it, it tears or breaks along a straight line: The branch split under their weight. One of the boxes had split open.split (something) in two/half The board had split in two. Split the pineapple down the middle.4share [transitive] to divide something into separate parts and share it between two or more peoplesplit something between somebody/something Profits will be split between three major charities.split something with somebody He agreed to sell the car and split the proceeds with his brother.split something three/four etc ways (=share something between three, four etc people or groups) The money will have to be split three ways. We agreed to split the cost.5injure [transitive] to make someone’s head or lip have a cut in it, as a result of a fall or hit: She fell against a table and split her lip. The force of the blow nearly split his head open.6end relationship (also split up) [intransitive] informal if people split, they end a marriage or relationship with each othersplit with/from He split from his wife last year. The band split two years ago.7leave [intransitive] old-fashioned informal to leave a place quickly: Come on – let’s split.8split hairs to argue that there is a difference between two things, when the difference is really too small to be important: This is just splitting hairs.9split the difference to agree on an amount that is exactly between two amounts that have been mentioned: OK, let’s split the difference, and I’ll give you £20.10split your sides informal to laugh a great dealsplit off phrasal verb1 (also split away) if one part of something splits off from the rest, it becomes completely separate from itsplit off from A huge lump of rock had split off from the cliff face.2 (also split away) if a small group of people split off from a larger group, they become separate from itsplit off from The group split away from the Green Party and formed the Environmental Alliance.3 split something ↔ off to separate one part of something and make it completely separate from the restsplit off from This part of the business has now been split off from the main company.split on somebody phrasal verb British English informal to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone else has done: Don’t you dare split on us!split up phrasal verb1if people split up, or if someone splits them up, they end a marriage or relationship with each other: Steve’s parents split up when he was four.split up with I thought she’d split up with her boyfriend.split somebody ↔ up Why would she try to split us up?2to divide people into different groups, or to be divided into groups: Please don’t split up when we get to the museum.split something/somebody ↔ up The teacher split up the class into three groups.3split something ↔ up to divide something into different partssplit up into The house has now been split up into individual flats.GRAMMAR: Reciprocal verbsSplit up is a reciprocal verb. This type of verb is used when saying that two or more people or things do something that involves both or all of them: · Her mum and dad split up. You can also say: · Her mum split up with her dad.· Her mum and dad split up with each other.Grammar guide ‒ VERBSsplit1 verbsplit2 noun
splitsplit2 ●○○ noun [countable] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a split in the seam of his pants
- The new policy has led to a split in the armed forces.
- There is a deep split in the country over the best way to move forward the peace process.
- There is a startling split between men's and women's views of sexual harassment.
- There is great danger of a split in the party if a competent leader is not found soon.
- We suddenly noticed there was a split in the side of the tent.
- From the sound of the word thought it was a split into two personalities.
- In the unitary and harmonious female Spirit-Self there will be no such splits.
- The split reflects a difference of opinion simmering for months within the Republican Party.
- The split was formally approved at an extraordinary congress in Prague on Feb. 23.
- The reasons for the split are understandable.
Longman Language Activatorwhen members of a group disagree with each other
if a group of people is divided or split over something, some of them support one opinion and others support a completely different one: be divided/split over/on: · The country's leaders appear to be split on the question of tax cuts.· Foreign aid agencies were split over whether to resume their operations in the troubled country.
disagreement among the members of a group that causes it to separate into smaller groups, each with a different opinion: · There are signs of growing division within the administration about the best strategy to adopt.division over: · There was a deep division in the Republican Party over policy on Central America.
a serious disagreement that divides an organization or group into two smaller groups: · There is great danger of a split in the party if a competent leader is not found soon.split over: · There is a deep split in the country over the best way to move forward the peace process.
a serious disagreement that divides a group for a very long time or prevents two people or organizations from continuing to live or work together: · It took a good five years for the rift within the party to mend.rift between: · The family arguments finally caused a rift between the mother and daughter that has not yet healed.
a long narrow hole across the surface of something a long, narrow line across the surface of a hard substance such as glass or stone where it has been damaged: crack in: · This cup has a crack in it.· The crack in the bedroom wall seems to be widening.
British a long straight hole caused when a material such as plastic or cloth tears: · We suddenly noticed there was a split in the side of the tent.
a long, narrow hole, especially one that you can see through or put things through: · Tania's skirt has a long slit up the back.· I covered my eyes with my hands, watching through the slits between my fingers.
a straight narrow hole, for example on a container, made so that a particular type or size of object can fit through it: · I dropped a quarter in the slot and dialed the number.· The message was placed in every employee's mail slot.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY rumours of a marriage split The companies split the profits fifty-fifty. The committee was split along party lines.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
rumours of a marriage split (=when something is shared equally between three, four etc people) a three-way split in the profits
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a three-way split in the profits· The exhibition of 360 paintings is divided into three categories.
The companies split the profits fifty-fifty. (=stop having a romantic relationship)
· The old man’s face broke into a grin.
(=the members decide not to play together anymore)· The group split up because of ‘musical differences’.
· Divide the dough in half.
(=a very bad headache)· The next day he woke up with a splitting headache.
The committee was split along party lines.· The monkeys themselves have a deep split between the Old World and the New.· The deep political split on the Council about public funding is obvious.· He says we like to see a good deep split.
· That year Hoffman-LaRoche declared a fifty-for-one stock split.· The results reflect a 2-for-1 stock split during the second quarter of 1997.· And by 1985 it had reached $ 150 a share, stock splits considered.· From an economic perspective, there is no substantive difference between a stock split and a stock dividend.· Allen said, up from 19 cents a year earlier, adjusted for a 5-for-4 stock split.· And remember that, although a stock split makes you feel richer, you gain no additional value, just more paper.
NOUN· And he accused her of having a split personality.· It gives men and institutions split personalities.· Rafter watched and waited, perhaps hoping that Ivanisevic's split personalities would unravel.
· I was out of my bed in a split second, shoe in hand and lights on.· For a split second, she struggled.· They had no time to gasp, or clutch at each other, or even writhe in a split second of torment.· In a split second she's inside.· For a split second, the noise that had been rising from stadium to sky descended from sky to stadium.· Bombs in the magazine detonate in chain reaction in a split second.· For a split second, it took the oxygen out of the air.
VERB· This index adjusts automatically for splits.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a split second► split something two/three etc ways
1tear a tear or crack in something made of cloth, wood etcsplit in- If the momentum picks up, conventional politics could be torn asunder.
- In 1964, the Republican Party was torn asunder by the nomination of conservative Barry Goldwater.
- The veils are parting, the mists are rent asunder.
- This unity was to be rent asunder by changes in technology and by the impact of the Modern Movement in architecture.
- The vote was split right down the middle.
- We split you down the middle.
a long split in the sleeve of his coat2disagreement a serious disagreement that divides an organization or group of people into smaller groups SYN riftsplit in/within The argument could lead to a damaging split in the party. a deep split within the governmentsplit between a split between the radicals and the moderates within the groupsplit over The union is desperate to avoid a split over this issue.3end of relationship informal the end of a marriage or relationship – used especially in newspapers and magazines: rumours of a marriage splitsplit with She seems to be getting over her recent split with her fiancé.4dividing something the way in which something, especially money, is shared between several people: In a publishing deal, the average split used to be 50:50 between writer and publisher.three-way/four-way etc split (=when something is shared equally between three, four etc people) a three-way split in the profits5separation informal a clear separation or difference between two thingssplit between the traditional split between the state and church6do the splits to spread your legs wide apart so that your legs touch the floor along their whole length