division

di·vi·sion

noun \də-ˈvi-zhən\

Definition of DIVISION

1

a : the act or process of dividing : the state of being divided

b : the act, process, or an instance of distributing among a number : distribution

c obsolete : a method of arranging or disposing (as troops)

2

: one of the parts or groupings into which a whole is divided or is divisible

3

: the condition or an instance of being divided in opinion or interest : disagreement, disunity <exploited the divisions between the two countries>

4

a : something that divides, separates, or marks off

b : the act, process, or an instance of separating or keeping apart : separation

5

: the mathematical operation of dividing something

6

a : a self-contained major military unit capable of independent action

b : a tactical military unit composed of headquarters and usually three to five brigades

c (1) : the basic naval administrative unit (2) : a tactical subdivision of a squadron of ships

d : a unit of the United States Air Force higher than a wing and lower than an air force

7

a : a portion of a territorial unit marked off for a particular purpose (as administrative or judicial functions)

b : an administrative or operating unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization

8

: the physical separation into different lobbies of the members of a parliamentary body voting for and against a question

9

: plant propagation by dividing parts and planting segments capable of producing roots and shoots

10

: a group of organisms forming part of a larger group; specifically : a primary category of the plant kingdom in biological taxonomy that is typically equivalent to a phylum

11

: a competitive class or category (as in boxing or wrestling)

— di·vi·sion·al \-ˈvizh-nəl, -ˈvi-zhə-n^əl\ adjective

Examples of DIVISION

1. the process of cell division
2. a division of profits into equal shares
3. After learning multiplication, the students were taught division.

Origin of DIVISION

Middle English, from Anglo-French devision, from Latin division-, divisio, from dividere to divide

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DIVISION

Synonyms

divider, partition, separation, separator

Antonyms

unification, union

Related Words

barrier, fence, wall; border, boundary, limit

Near Antonyms

assemblage, association; attachment, conjunction, connection, link, linkage, linkup; aggregation, combination, consolidation, fusion

See Synonym Discussion at part

Rhymes with DIVISION

abscission, collision, concision, decision, derision, dream vision, elision, elysian, envision, excision, incision, misprision, North Frisian, Parisian, precisian, precision, prevision, provision, recision, rescission, revision

di·vi·sion

noun \də-ˈvizh-ən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of DIVISION

1

: the act or process of dividing : the state of being divided—see cell division

2

: a group of organisms forming part of a larger group; specifically : a primary category of the plant kingdom

—di·vi·sion·al \-ˈvizh-nəl, -ˈvizh-ən-^əl\ (audio pronunciation) adjective