divide

[ dih-vahyd ]

verb (used with object)

, di·vid·ed, di·vid·ing.

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)

, di·vid·ed, di·vid·ing.

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 10 into 50

   to divide 50 by 10

   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

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• diˈvidable, adjective

Other Words From

• misdi·vide verb misdivided misdividing
• predi·vide verb (used with object) predivided predividing
• redi·vide verb redivided redividing
• undi·viding 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

That flash point foretells an America becoming more polarized the hotter things get, more sharply divided between its rural and urban communities and more hateful and more dangerous.

From Salon

That’s so helpful in solving difficult and important problems — by further dividing the electorate at public expense, while the rich keep getting richer.

From Salon

These individually managed funds are divided by local authority, making it more costly, because each fund is paying its own management and administration fees.

From BBC

Past presidents have employed this method liberally, often as a way of circumventing political divides that would slow nominations.

From BBC

Opinion was divided on social media, with one X user saying the advert had combined "Nigella and Greggs, two of the greatest loves of my life".

From BBC

Related Words

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