divide

[dih-vahyd]

verb (used with object)

divided, dividing 

1. to separate into parts, groups, sections, etc.

   Antonyms: unite

2. to separate or part from something else; sunder; cut off.

   Synonyms: shear, sever

3. to deal out in parts; distribute in shares; apportion.

   Synonyms: portion, partition

4. to cleave; part.

5. to separate in opinion or feeling; cause to disagree.

   The issue divided the senators.

   Synonyms: estrange, alienate

6. to distinguish the kinds of; classify.

   Synonyms: distribute, arrange, sort

7. Mathematics.

   1. to separate into equal parts by the process of mathematical division; apply the mathematical process of division to.

      Eight divided by four is two.

   2. to be a divisor of, without a remainder.

8. to mark a uniform scale on (a ruler, thermometer, etc.).

9. British Government.,  to separate (a legislature, assembly, etc.) into two groups in ascertaining the vote on a question.

verb (used without object)

divided, dividing 

1. to become divided or separated.

2. to share something with others.

3. to diverge; branch; fork.

   The road divides six miles from here.

4. to perform the mathematical process of division.

   He could add and subtract but hadn't learned to divide.

5. British Government.,  to vote by separating into two groups.

noun

1. a division.

   a divide in the road.

2. Physical Geography.,  the line or zone of higher ground between two adjacent streams or drainage basins.

3. Archaic.,  the act of dividing.

divide

/ dɪˈvaɪd /

verb

1. to separate or be separated into parts or groups; split up; part

2. to share or be shared out in parts; distribute

3. to diverge or cause to diverge in opinion or aim

   the issue divided the management

4. (tr) to keep apart or be a boundary between

   the Rio Grande divides Mexico from the United States

5. (intr) (in Parliament and similar legislatures) to vote by separating into two groups

6. to categorize; classify

7. to calculate the quotient of (one number or quantity) and (another number or quantity) by division

   to divide 50 by 10

   to divide 10 into 50

   to divide by 10

8. (intr) to diverge

   the roads divide

9. (tr) to mark increments of (length, angle, etc) as by use of an engraving machine

noun

1. an area of relatively high ground separating drainage basins; watershed See also continental divide

2. a division; split

divide

1. To subject (a number) to the process of division.

2. To be a divisor of.

3. To use (a number) as a divisor.

4. To perform the operation of division.

5. To undergo cell division.

Other Word Forms

• dividable adjective
• misdivide verb
• predivide verb (used with object)
• redivide verb
• undividing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of divide¹

First recorded 1325–75; Middle English (from Anglo-French divider ), from Latin dīvidere “to separate, divide”

Word History and Origins

Origin of divide¹

C14: from Latin dīvidere to force apart, from _di- ² + vid- separate, from the source of viduus bereaved, vidua _widow

Synonym Study

See separate.

Example Sentences

“A Savage Art” seeks to shrink that divide, highlighting just how difficult it can be to make art look easy.

From Salon

The bill received rare bipartisan support among deeply divided US lawmakers.

From BBC

"The idea of dividing the country and establishing a terrorist state at its centre must be put off the table once and for all," he added.

From BBC

But the digital divide separating the prosperous from the low-income was so vast that these efforts fell short.

From Los Angeles Times

The 12 teams in Division One would be divided into two groups, with each team playing the others in their group twice.

From BBC

Related Words

• break 
• break down 
• carve 
• cut 
• isolate 
• partition 
• segregate 
• split 
• subdivide 
• tear