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 all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

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