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split

1. To divide lengthwise; to separate from end to end, especially. 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.

4. (Science: chemistry) 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.

Origin: Probably of Scand. Or Low german origin; cf. Dan. Splitte, LG. Splitten, OD. Splitten, spletten, D. Splijten, G. Spleissen, MHG. Splizen. Cf. Splice, Splint, Splinter.

1. Divided; cleft.

2. (Science: botany) divided deeply; cleft. Split pease, hulled pease split for making soup, etc.

(Science: machinery) Split pin, a pin with one end split so that it may be spread open to secure it in its place. Split pulley, a parting pulley. See Pulley. Split ring, a ring with overlapped or interlocked ends which may be sprung apart so that objects, as keys, may be strung upon the ring or removed from it. Split ticket, a ballot containing the names of only a portion of the candidates regularly nominated by one party, other names being substituted for those omitted.