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divide Meaning & Definition

/dɪˈvaɪd/

What Does Divide Mean?

As a verb, divide means To split or separate (something) into two or more parts. It can also mean To separate into two or more parts. As a noun, it means A thing that divides.

Word Facts for Divide

Part of speechverb, noun
Pronunciation//dɪˈvaɪd//
Syllables1
Synonymspart, separate and split
Antonymsunite, unify and multiply
Pluraldivides
Verb formsdivides, dividing, divided

Divide Definition (Verb)

  1. To split or separate (something) into two or more parts.

    a wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns

  2. To separate into two or more parts.
  3. To share (something) by dividing it.

    How shall we divide this pie?

  4. To cause (a group of people) to disagree.

    Words divide us; Wiktionary unites us.

  5. To calculate the quotient number by which another one (the divisor) is multiplied to produce a second number (the dividend).

    If you divide 6 by 3, you get 2.

  6. To be a divisor of.

    3 divides 6.

  7. To reproduce by either mitosis or meiosis.
  8. To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile; to set at variance.
  9. To break friendship; to fall out.
  10. To have a share; to partake.
  11. To vote, as in the British parliament and other legislatures, by the members separating themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the nays.
  12. To split (something) into regular steps or intervals; to mark with degrees; to graduate.

    to divide a sextant

  13. To play or sing in a florid style, or with variations.

Divide as a Noun

  1. A thing that divides.

    Stay on your side of the divide, please.

  2. An act of dividing.

    The divide left most of the good land on my share of the property.

  3. A distancing between two people or things.

    There is a great divide between us.

  4. A large chasm, gorge, or ravine between two areas of land.

    If you're heading to the coast, you'll have to cross the divide first.

  5. The topographical boundary dividing two adjacent catchment basins, such as a ridge or a crest.

Verb

  1. (with by) To calculate the number (the quotient) by which you must multiply one given number (the divisor) to produce a second given number (the dividend).

    If you divide 6 by 3, you get 2.

  2. Of a cell, to reproduce by dividing.
  3. To vote, as in the British parliament and other legislatures, by the members separating themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the noes.
  4. To mark divisions on; to graduate.

    to divide a sextant

Synonyms of Divide

Divide synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Divide

Divide in a Sentence

a wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns

How shall we divide this pie?

Words divide us; Wiktionary unites us.

If you divide 6 by 3, you get 2.

3 divides 6.

to divide a sextant

Stay on your side of the divide, please.

The divide left most of the good land on my share of the property.

There is a great divide between us.

If you're heading to the coast, you'll have to cross the divide first.

The team crossed streams and jumped across deep, narrow divides in the glacier.

Word Forms & Grammar

divide (third-person singular simple present divides, present participle dividing, simple past and past participle divided)

divide (plural divides)

Words That Rhyme With Divide

Origin of Divide

From Middle English dividen, from Latin dīvidere (“to divide”). Displaced native Old English tōdǣlan related to English deal which formerly meant a “portion” or “part” of something.

How Do You Say Divide?

Divide is pronounced //dɪˈvaɪd// and has 1 syllable.

Quick Answers About Divide

Is divide a verb or a noun?

Divide is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.

What is another word for divide?

You can replace divide with words such as part, separate and split. See the full list of divide synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of divide?

Words opposite in meaning to divide are unite, unify, multiply and combine.

What is the plural of divide?

The plural of divide is divides.

What is the past tense of divide?

The past tense of divide is divided. The present participle is dividing.

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