divide

[dih-vahyd] /dɪˈvaɪd/
verb (used with object), divided, dividing.
1.
to separate into parts, groups, sections, etc.
2.
to separate or part from something else; sunder; cut off.
3.
to deal out in parts; distribute in shares; apportion.
4.
to cleave; part.
5.
to separate in opinion or feeling; cause to disagree:
The issue divided the senators.
6.
to distinguish the kinds of; classify.
7.
Mathematics.
  1. to separate into equal parts by the process of mathematical division; apply the mathematical process of division to:
    Eight divided by four is two.
  2. to be a divisor of, without a remainder.
8.
to mark a uniform scale on (a ruler, thermometer, etc.).
9.
British Government. to separate (a legislature, assembly, etc.) into two groups in ascertaining the vote on a question.
verb (used without object), divided, dividing.
10.
to become divided or separated.
11.
to share something with others.
12.
to diverge; branch; fork:
The road divides six miles from here.
13.
to perform the mathematical process of division:
He could add and subtract but hadn't learned to divide.
14.
British Government. to vote by separating into two groups.
noun
15.
a division:
a divide in the road.
16.
Physical Geography. the line or zone of higher ground between two adjacent streams or drainage basins.
17.
Archaic. the act of dividing.
Origin
1325-75; Middle English (< Anglo-French divider) < Latin dīvidere to separate, divide
Related forms
misdivide, verb, misdivided, misdividing.
predivide, verb (used with object), predivided, predividing.
redivide, verb, redivided, redividing.
undividing, adjective
Synonyms
1. See separate. 2. sever, shear. 3. partition, portion. 5. alienate, estrange. 6. sort, arrange, distribute.
Antonyms
1. unite.
Examples from the web for divide
  • The list of dvergar seems to divide into three separate interpolations.
  • Racing picture and ace band divide top spots on bill of general appeal.
  • One way to divide huntergatherer groups is by their return systems.
  • About one third of the park lies on the west side of the divide.
  • It could add, multiply, subtract, and divide, and its output device was a paper tape.
  • Circles are simple closed curves which divide the plane into an interior and an exterior.
  • The continental divide stretches across the crest of the rocky mountains.
  • In the north, on the east side of the continental divide is north park.
  • In fact, there are such triple divide points wherever two continental divides meet.
British Dictionary definitions for divide

divide

/dɪˈvaɪd/
verb
1.
to separate or be separated into parts or groups; split up; part
2.
to share or be shared out in parts; distribute
3.
to diverge or cause to diverge in opinion or aim: the issue divided the management
4.
(transitive) to keep apart or be a boundary between: the Rio Grande divides Mexico from the United States
5.
(intransitive) (in Parliament and similar legislatures) to vote by separating into two groups
6.
to categorize; classify
7.
to calculate the quotient of (one number or quantity) and (another number or quantity) by division: to divide 50 by 10, to divide 10 into 50, to divide by 10
8.
(intransitive) to diverge: the roads divide
9.
(transitive) to mark increments of (length, angle, etc) as by use of an engraving machine
noun
10.
(mainly US & Canadian) an area of relatively high ground separating drainage basins; watershed See also continental divide
11.
a division; split
Derived Forms
dividable, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Latin dīvidere to force apart, from di-² + vid- separate, from the source of viduus bereaved, viduawidow
Word Origin and History for divide
v.

early 14c., from Latin dividere "to force apart, cleave, distribute," from dis- "apart" (see dis-) + -videre "to separate," from PIE root *weidh- "to separate" (see widow; also see with).

Mathematical sense is from early 15c. Divide and rule (c.1600) translates Latin divide et impera, a maxim of Machiavelli. Related: Divided; dividing.

n.

1640s, "act of dividing," from divide (v.). Meaning "watershed, separation between river valleys" is first recorded 1807, American English.

divide in Medicine

divide di·vide (dĭ-vīd')
v. di·vid·ed, di·vid·ing, di·vides

  1. To separate or become separated into parts, sections, groups, or branches.

  2. To sector into units of measurement; graduate.

  3. To separate and group according to kind; classify.

  4. To branch out, as a blood vessel.

  5. To undergo cell division.

divide in Science
divide
  (dĭ-vīd')   

  1. To subject (a number) to the process of division.

  2. To be a divisor of.

  3. To use (a number) as a divisor.

  4. To perform the operation of division.

  5. To undergo cell division.