splinter

1 of 2

noun

splin·​ter ˈsplin-tər How to pronounce splinter (audio)
1
a
: a thin piece split or broken off lengthwise : sliver
b
: a small needlelike particle
2
: a group or faction broken away from a parent body
splinter adjective
splintery adjective

splinter

2 of 2

verb

splintered; splintering ˈsplin-tə-riŋ How to pronounce splinter (audio)
-triŋ

transitive verb

1
: to split or rend into long thin pieces : shiver
2
: to split into fragments, parts, or factions

Examples of splinter in a Sentence

Noun I got a splinter in my finger. There were splinters of glass everywhere. Verb The board splintered under his weight. The impact of the crash splintered the glass. groups that have splintered off to form new political movements a political party that has been splintered by disagreements
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor — Bare. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024 Physical trauma to the nail can damage blood vessels beneath the nail, causing blood to pool and appear as a dark verticle line (known as a splinter hemorrhage). Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
Related article In a country splintered by civil war, could Syria’s rebels usher in a new dawn? Ukraine is bracing for the consequences of Trump’s re-election victory amid fears that the incoming administration could withdraw support for Kyiv. Nathan Hodge, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024 Meanwhile, his own party is splintering on Trump’s Cabinet in jabs to the president-elect. Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for splinter 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle Low German splinte splint

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of splinter was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near splinter

Cite this Entry

“Splinter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/splinter. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

splinter

1 of 2 noun
splin·​ter ˈsplint-ər How to pronounce splinter (audio)
: a thin piece split or torn off lengthwise : sliver
splinter adjective

splinter

2 of 2 verb
splintered; splintering ˈsplint-ə-riŋ How to pronounce splinter (audio)
ˈsplin-triŋ
: to divide or break into splinters

Medical Definition

splinter

noun
splin·​ter ˈsplint-ər How to pronounce splinter (audio)
: a thin piece (as of wood) split or broken off lengthwise
especially : such a piece embedded in the skin
used tweezers to remove a splinter
splinter transitive verb
splintered; splintering ˈsplint-ə-riŋ, ˈsplin-triŋ How to pronounce splinter (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on splinter

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