sever

sev·er

verb \ˈse-vər\

sev·eredsev·er·ing \ˈsev-riŋ, ˈse-və-\

Definition of SEVER

transitive verb

: to put or keep apart : divide; especially : to remove (as a part) by or as if by cutting

intransitive verb

: to become separated

Examples of SEVER

1. He severed the lowest tree limbs.
2. His finger was severed in the accident.
3. Activists are asking the government to sever all diplomatic relations with the country.

Origin of SEVER

Middle English, from Anglo-French severer, from Latin separare — more at separate

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SEVER

Synonyms

break up, decouple, disassociate, disconnect, disjoin, disjoint, dissever, dissociate, disunite, divide, divorce, part, ramify, resolve, separate, 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

Rhymes with SEVER

clever, ever, lever, never