splice

verb \ ˈsplīs \

|Updated on: 17 Aug 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

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Recent Examples of splice from the Web

The clip is actually a conspiracy video that splices together Obama's words to change the meaning of his sentences.

— jenna west, SI.com, "Mike Leach Defends Tweeting Barack Obama Conspiracy Video From 2014," 18 June 2018
One particular technology that seems promising is the technique known as Crispr, a complex process used to slice and splice DNA.

— New York Times, "SoftBank Wants to Build the Future. Here Are Some New Bets It Could Make.," 14 June 2018
The lenghty movie is divided into 11 small reels that Culbert consolidates into four larger ones, spinning the twin reels like a loom, cutting film and splicing the reels together.

— joe pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "There Are Secrets in the Texas Theatre," 25 May 2018
The first few episodes, written by Hader and Berg and directed by Hader, tap into this comedy but also splice in bits of disturbing violence as the show begins to look like a vehicle for Hader to have something to say, dramatically.

— tim goodman, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Barry': TV Review | SXSW 2018," 10 Mar. 2018
Natalie Portman spearheads a troupe of scientists into The Shimmer—an iridescent bubble which is raging trippy biological warfare in Florida, splicing DNA and messing with the minds and memories of all who enter.

— the editors of gq, GQ, "The Best Movies of 2018 (So Far)," 19 June 2018
According to SB Nation, the video was spliced together from a European Union speech Obama gave in 2014.

— stephen a. crockett jr., The Root, "Washington State Football Coach Tweets Fake Obama Video and Then Proves His Ignorance by Arguing About It," 18 June 2018
The Norwoods announced the arrival of their newborn daughter on May 22 with a music video that spliced footage from Princess Love’s pregnancy with video of the couple’s August 2016 wedding.

— dave quinn, PEOPLE.com, "Ray J Is the 'Proudest Dad on the Planet' as He Shares Photos of Newborn Daughter Melody Love," 9 June 2018
One television spot by a Korean-language news station urging people to come out to this Saturday's rally spliced footage from the post-riot peace rally with the previous weekend's protest against the shelter.

— victoria kim, latimes.com, "Furor is mounting over proposed Koreatown shelter. Is it NIMBYism, or a community 'blindsided' by the city?," 14 May 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.