Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - split

(splits, splitting) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. Note: The form 'split' is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle of the verb. 1. If something splits or if you split it, it is divided into two or more parts. In a severe gale the ship split in two... If the chicken is fairly small, you may simply split it in half... ...uniting families split by the war. VERB: V in/into n, V n in/into n, V n 2. If an organization splits or is split, one group of members disagrees strongly with the other members, and may form a group of their own. Yet it is feared the Republican leadership could split over the agreement... Women priests are accused of splitting the church. VERB: V, V n • Split is also an adjective. The Kremlin is deeply split in its approach to foreign policy. ADJ: usu v-link ADJ 3. A split in an organization is a disagreement between its members. They accused both radicals and conservatives of trying to provoke a split in the party. N-COUNT 4. A split between two things is a division or difference between them. ...a split between what is thought and what is felt. N-SING: oft N between pl-n 5. If something such as wood or a piece of clothing splits or is split, a long crack or tear appears in it. The seat of his short grey trousers split... Twist the mixture into individual sausages without splitting the skins... VERB: V, V n 6. A split is a long crack or tear. The plastic-covered seat has a few small splits around the corners. N-COUNT 7. If two or more people split something, they share it between them. I would rather pay for a meal than watch nine friends pick over and split a bill... All exhibits are for sale, the proceeds being split between Oxfam and the artist. VERB: V n, V n between pl-n see also splitting