divide

¹di·vide

verb \də-ˈvīd\

di·vid·eddi·vid·ing

Definition of DIVIDE

transitive verb

1

a : to separate into two or more parts, areas, or groups <divide the city into wards>

b : to separate into classes, categories, or divisions <divide history into epochs>

c : cleave, part <a ship dividing the waves>

2

a : to separate into portions and give out in shares : distribute <divide profits>

b : to possess, enjoy, or make use of in common <divide the blame>

c : apportion <divides her time between the office and home>

3

a : to cause to be separate, distinct, or apart from one another <fields divided by stone walls>

b : to separate into opposing sides or parties <the issues that divide us>

c : to cause (a parliamentary body) to vote by division

4

a : to subject (a number or quantity) to the operation of finding how many times it contains another number or quantity <divide 42 by 14>

b : to be used as a divisor with respect to (a dividend) <4 divides 16 evenly>

c : to use as a divisor —used with into <divide 14 into 42>

intransitive verb

1

: to perform mathematical division

2

a (1) : to undergo replication, multiplication, fission, or separation into parts (2) : to branch out

b : to become separated or disunited especially in opinion or interest

— di·vid·able \-ˈvī-də-bəl\ adjective

Examples of DIVIDE

1. She divided the pie into eight pieces.
2. The equator divides the Earth into two hemispheres.
3. The river divides after the bridge.
4. A tall fence divides the two yards.

Origin of DIVIDE

Middle English, from Latin dividere, from dis- + -videre to separate — more at widow

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DIVIDE

Synonyms

break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, separate, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke

Antonyms

join, link, unify, unite

Related Words

break down, decompose, disassemble, disintegrate, dissolve; bifurcate, bisect, cleave, dichotomize, dissect, fractionalize, fractionate, halve, partition, quarter, segment, subdivide, trisect; fragment, fragmentate, fragmentize; break, fracture, pull, rend, rift, rip, rive, rupture, tear; cut off, insulate, isolate, seclude, segregate, sequester; detach, disengage, disentangle, unravel, untie

Near Antonyms

assemble, associate, blend, combine, mingle, mix; connect, couple; accumulate, agglutinate, attach, bind, cement, close, fasten, fuse, knit, stick, weld

See Synonym Discussion at separate, distribute

Rhymes with DIVIDE

abide, allied, applied, aside, astride, backside, backslide, bankside, beachside, bedside, beside, bestride, betide, blear-eyed, blindside, blow-dried, blue-eyed, broadside, bromide, bug-eyed, Burnside, clear-eyed, cockeyed, cold-eyed, collide, confide, courtside, cowhide, cross-eyed, curbside, dayside, decide, deride, dockside, doe-eyed, downside, downslide, dry-eyed, ebb tide, elide, field guide, fireside, flip side, flood tide, fluoride, foreside, four-eyed, free ride, freeze-dried, Girl Guide, glass-eyed, graveside, green-eyed, hagride, hang glide, hard-eyed, hawkeyed, hayride, high tide, hillside, horsehide, inside, in stride, ironside, joyride, kingside, lakeside, landslide, low tide, lynx-eyed, misguide, moon-eyed, neap tide, nearside, nightside, noontide, offside, onside, outride, outside, pie-eyed, poolside, pop-eyed, preside, prompt side, provide, quayside, queenside, rawhide, red tide, reside, ringside, riptide, roadside, seaside, self-pride, sharp-eyed, shipside, shoreside, Shrovetide, sloe-eyed, snowslide, springtide, squint-eyed, stateside, statewide, storewide, Strathclyde, streamside, strong side, subside, tailslide, tongue-tied, topside, trackside, trailside, untried, upside, vat-dyed, walleyed, war bride, waveguide, wayside, wide-eyed, wild-eyed, worldwide, yuletide

²divide

noun

Definition of DIVIDE

1

: an act of dividing

2

a : a dividing ridge between drainage areas

b : a point or line of division or disagreement

First Known Use of DIVIDE

1642

di·vide

verb \də-ˈvīd\   (Medical Dictionary)

di·vid·eddi·vid·ing

Medical Definition of DIVIDE

transitive verb

: to separate into two or more parts <divide a nerve surgically>

intransitive verb

: to undergo replication, multiplication, fission, or separation into parts <actively dividing cells>