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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
The border has long seemed a political millstone for Democrats, a place where the party splinters on policy and the results are out of step with broad public opinion. Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 28 Sep. 2024 Or, did your friend get a little too curious in the brush and get a splinter or stung by a bee or wasp? Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
And that's why Climate Week was really spread all over the city and splintered into smaller meetings happening all over the place. Esha Chhabra, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Oak trees broke and splintered, blocking roads and trashing homes. Kristen Arnett, Vogue, 17 Oct. 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 8 Nov. 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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