splice

verb \ ˈsplīs \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of splice

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

See splice defined for English-language learners

See splice defined for kids

Recent Examples of splice from the Web

Quick cuts of celebrities including Sonny and Cher and Carol Channing are spliced together with shots of Raquel Welch and Audrey Hepburn attempting to find their seats, as all the magic unfolds at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

— libby hill, latimes.com, "This is how the Oscars opened its ceremony 50 years ago," 5 Mar. 2018
Using steel trusses and modular construction units that fit on trucks for quick transport, crews will splice together this prefabricated bridge in a matter of days.

— tim newcomb, Popular Mechanics, "How to Replace a Destroyed Bridge in a Hurry," 30 May 2013
Its semi-sensical planes are spliced and splintered.

— john timpane, Philly.com, "'Picasso and the Painting that Shocked the World': How a picture of five women ignited modernism," 21 Mar. 2018
Jolie was halfway to a cartoon, as if Rambo had been gene-spliced with Jessica Rabbit, but there is nothing luscious or overheated about the new-look Lara.

— john cassidy, The New Yorker, "“Tomb Raider” and “Isle of Dogs,” Reviewed," 15 Mar. 2018
Researchers are also studying ways to genetically splice out HIV from infected cells.

— alice park, Time, "There Is No Cure for HIV—But Scientists May Be Getting Closer," 8 Mar. 2018
Between spliced footage of kids running and doing jumping jacks, Obama makes a cameo on the White House lawn, tossing around the old pigskin.

— Newsweek, "Amazing Photos of Bioluminescent Phytoplankton," 14 Mar. 2018
His contortions sometimes get spliced into the game videos shown at practice.

— kurt streeter, New York Times, "The Warriors’ 70-Year-Old Truth-Teller," 28 Feb. 2018
Channel 1 broadcast the tribute spliced with combat footage of airstrikes to emphasize the moment, including roaring Su-25 ground support aircraft and one quick glimpse through a sniper’s scope of military vehicles blowing up.

— alex horton, Washington Post, "Russian state media just mixed up Syrian war footage with a video-game clip," 26 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'splice.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.