splice

1 of 2

verb

ˈsplīs 

spliced; splicing

transitive verb

1

a

: to unite (two ropes or two parts of a rope) by interweaving the strands

b

: to unite (two lengths of magnetic tape, photographic film, etc.) by overlapping and securing together two ends

2

: to unite, link, or insert as if by splicing

3

: to combine or insert (something) by genetic engineering

spliced a human gene for insulin into a bacterium

splicer noun

splice

2 of 2

noun

1

: a joining or joint made by splicing something

2

: marriage, wedding

Illustration of splice

• splice 1

Examples of splice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

They must be shipped to theaters in multiple portions that are then hand-spliced together over several hours into a single, four-to-six foot-wide platter that is then handled with a special forklift. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 July 2026

To make this music, Atkinson sculpted Fender Rhodes piano and electronics melodies in a process akin to early musique concrète, a technique in which composers took fragments of magnetic tape and spliced them together. — Vanessa Ague, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026

Noun

To keep our attention, Parreno and Gordon splice in snippets of overhead shots or official TV footage. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026

The minute a splice in the film strip is made, reality is being edited. — Peter Bogdanovich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

obsolete Dutch splissen; akin to Middle Dutch splitten to split

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1627, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing splice

• comma splice

Rhymes for splice

• dice
• feis
• gneiss
• grice
• ice
• lice
• mice
• slice
• spice
• thrice
• trice
• twice

Kids Definition

splice

1 of 2 verb

ˈsplīs 

spliced; splicing

1

: to unite (as two ropes) by weaving the strands together

2

: to unite (as pieces of film) by connecting the ends together

3

: to unite, link, or insert as if by splicing

splicer noun

splice

2 of 2 noun

: a joining or joint made by splicing

Medical Definition

splice

transitive verb

ˈsplīs 

spliced; splicing

: to join together or insert (as segments of RNA or DNA) to form new genetic combinations

spliced a human gene for insulin into a bacterium

see gene-splicing