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Synonyms

divide

American  
[dih-vahyd] / dɪˈvaɪd /

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 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

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

  2. a division; split

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
divide Scientific  
/ dĭ-vīd /
  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.


Related Words

See separate.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of divide

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Taiwan declined to comment on its accuracy, but called it a “crude and clumsy” effort to divide Taiwanese society, belittle the government and hurt morale.

From The Wall Street Journal

Views on the BOK’s future rate moves remain divided, with some analysts scaling back their earlier expectations for cuts while others still see room for further easing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jens Frederiksen, who works at a fishing business in Nuuk running a big shrimp trawler, said there is a divide in opinion between those in the capital and those in other coastal areas.

From The Wall Street Journal

French politicians across the divide have been up in arms against the deal, which they view as an assault on the country's influential farming sector.

From Barron's

The data back up this generational housing divide.

From MarketWatch