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Definition split

Etymology

Attested since about 1567, from Middle Dutch splitten (�to split�) and/or Middle Low German splitten (�to split�), both intensive forms related to Proto-Germanic *spl?tan? (whence Danish splitte, Low German splieten, German splei�en), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pley- (�to split, splice�) (compare Old English speld (�splinter�), Old High German spaltan (�to split�), Old Irish sliss (�splinter�), Lithuanian spaliai (�flax sheaves�), Czech p?l (�half�), Old Church Slavonic ???-??????? (ras-plitati, �to cleave, split�)).

Adjective

split (not comparable)

Divided.
(algebra, of a short exact sequence) Having the middle group equal to the direct product of the others.
(of coffee) Comprising half decaffeinated and half caffeinated espresso.
(stock exchange, of an order, sale, etc.) Divided so as to be done or executed part at one time or price and part at another time or price.
(stock exchange, historical, of quotations) Given in sixteenths rather than the usual eighths.
(London stock exchange) Designating ordinary stock that has been divided into preferred ordinary and deferred ordinary.

Noun

split (plural splits)

A crack or longitudinal fissure.
A breach or separation, as in a political party; a division.
A piece that is split off, or made thin, by splitting; a splinter; a fragment.
(leather manufacture) One of the sections of a skin made by dividing it into two or more thicknesses.
(gymnastics, cheerleading, dance, usually in the phrase �to do the splits�) A maneuver of spreading or sliding the feet apart until the legs are flat on the floor 180 degrees apart, either sideways to the body or with one leg in front and one behind, thus lowering the body completely to the floor in an upright position.
(baseball, slang) A split-finger fastball.
(bowling) A result of a first throw that leaves two or more pins standing with one or more pins between them knocked down.
A split shot or split stroke.
A dessert or confection resembling a banana split.
A unit of measure used for champagne or other spirits: 18.75 centiliter or one quarter of a standard .75 liter bottle. Commercially comparable to 1/20th (US) gallon, which is 1/2 of a fifth.
A bottle of wine containing 0.375 liters, half the volume of a standard .75 liter bottle; a demi.
(athletics) The elapsed time at specific intermediate points in a race.
(video games) The elapsed time at specific intermediate points in a speedrun.
(construction) A tear resulting from tensile stresses.
(gambling) A division of a stake happening when two cards of the kind on which the stake is laid are dealt in the same turn.
(music) A recording containing songs by multiple artists.

Verb

split (third-person singular simple present splits, present participle splitting, simple past and past participle split)

(transitive, ergative) Of something solid, to divide fully or partly along a more or less straight line.
(intransitive) Of something solid, particularly wood, to break along the grain fully or partly along a more or less straight line.
(transitive) To share; to divide.
(transitive, intransitive, slang) To leave.
(intransitive, of a couple) To separate.
(algebra, transitive and intransitive, acts on a polynomial) To factor into linear factors.
To be broken; to be dashed to pieces.
(intransitive) To burst out laughing.
(slang, dated) To divulge a secret; to betray confidence; to peach.
(sports) In athletics (esp. baseball), when both teams involved in a doubleheader each win one game and lose another game.