Definition: splitting

Search dictionary for

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

splitting
     adj : resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something ripped
           apart or lightning splitting a tree; "the tree split
           with a great ripping sound"; "heard a rending roar as
           the crowd surged forward" [syn: rending, ripping]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Split \Split\ (spl[i^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Split
   (Splitted, R.); p. pr. & vb. n. Splitting.] [Probably of
   Scand. or Low german origin; cf. Dan. splitte, LG. splitten,
   OD. splitten, spletten, D. splijten, G. spleissen, MHG.
   spl[=i]zen. Cf. Splice, Splint, Splinter.]
   1. To divide lengthwise; to separate from end to end, esp. by
      force; to divide in the direction of the grain layers; to
      rive; to cleave; as, to split a piece of timber or a
      board; to split a gem; to split a sheepskin.

            Cold winter split the rocks in twain. --Dryden.

   2. To burst; to rupture; to rend; to tear asunder.

            A huge vessel of exceeding hard marble split asunder
            by congealed water.                   --Boyle.

   3. To divide or break up into parts or divisions, as by
      discord; to separate into parts or parties, as a political
      party; to disunite. [Colloq.] --South.

   4. (Chem.) To divide or separate into components; -- often
      used with up; as, to split up sugar into alcohol and
      carbonic acid.

   To split hairs, to make distinctions of useless nicety.