splice

verb \ ˈsplīs \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 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

Old power cables spliced together and woven haphazardly through trees are used to power electricity to some houses in the mountain In Cain Alto, Puerto Rico, May 30, 2018.

— michael weissenstein, chicagotribune.com, "Puerto Rico grid 'teetering' despite $3.8 billion repair job," 30 May 2018
Jean-Luc Godard’s swirling essay film The Image Book spliced together fictional and archival images to build a rambling case against global consumerism, authoritarianism, and more.

— alissa wilkinson, Vox, "This year’s Cannes Film Festival was a plea against complacency," 18 May 2018
Around the middle of the show, a pink ombré blouse came out with Manson’s face spliced across it.

— steff yotka, Vogue, "Inside-Out Clothes, Dad Shoes, and 6 Other Things That Happened at Vetements Fall 2018," 19 Jan. 2018
That shot consists of Ebola surface proteins spliced to a live virus that causes the livestock disease vesicular stomatitis.

— dina fine maron, Scientific American, "Everything You Need to Know about the Ebola Vaccine," 17 May 2018
Abyss uses a third party that develops text-to-speech engines; actors read four hours of words, laughs, and moans that an algorithm splices together.

— allison p. davis, The Cut, "Are We Ready for Robot Sex?," 13 May 2018
Cincinnati's advantages in priority orders and draft picks would be spliced, split and, ultimately, severely offset with up to two additional teams joining the league in 2020.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Analysis: FC Cincinnati has much to gain by joining MLS in 2019 before Miami, Nashville," 12 May 2018
Hybritech was founded just two years after the world’s first biotech company, Genentech, launched in South San Francisco, pioneered recombinant DNA technology, which allowed DNA to be spliced together from different species.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego's Hybritech still influences local biotech, 40 years later," 9 May 2018
The spliced-together video featured Local 12 anchors Rob Braun and Cammie Dierking.

— carl weiser, Cincinnati.com, "Sinclair Broadcast video: Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld says he's boycotting local station Channel 12 WKRC," 2 Apr. 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.

Origin and Etymology of splice

obsolete Dutch splissen; akin to Middle Dutch splitten to split

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1525

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

splice

noun

Definition of splice

1 : a joining or joint made by splicing something

2 : marriage, wedding

See splice defined for English-language learners

Illustration of splice

First Known Use of splice

1627

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SPLICE Defined for English Language Learners

splice

verb

Definition of splice for English Language Learners

: to join ropes, wires, etc., by weaving or twisting them together
: to join (pieces of film, magnetic tape, etc.) by connecting their ends together

splice

noun

Definition of splice for English Language Learners

: the place where two things (such as two pieces of rope or film) have been joined by being spliced together

SPLICE Defined for Kids

splice

verb \ ˈsplīs \

Definition of splice for Students

spliced; splicing

1 : to unite (as two ropes) by weaving together

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

splice

noun

Definition of splice for Students

: the process of joining or a joint made by weaving or connecting the ends together

Medical Dictionary

splice

transitive verb \ ˈsplīs \

medical Definition of splice

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

Learn More about splice

See words that rhyme with splice Spanish Central: Translation of splice Nglish: Translation of splice for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about splice

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splice

Definition of splice

splicer

Recent Examples of splice from the Web

Origin and Etymology of splice

splice

Definition of splice

Illustration of splice

First Known Use of splice

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SPLICE Defined for English Language Learners

splice

Definition of splice for English Language Learners

splice

Definition of splice for English Language Learners

SPLICE Defined for Kids

splice

Definition of splice for Students

splice

Definition of splice for Students

Medical Dictionary

splice

medical Definition of splice

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