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splinter Meaning & Definition

/ˈsplɪn.tə/

What Does Splinter Mean?

As a noun, splinter means A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood. A small such fragment that gets embedded in the flesh. It is also used to mean A small such fragment that gets embedded in the flesh. As a verb, it means To come apart into long sharp fragments. As a verb, it means (of a group) To break, or cause to break, into factions.

Splinter: Key Facts

Part of speechnoun, verb
Pronunciation/ˈsplɪn.tə/
Syllables2
Synonymssliver, secede and break away
Pluralsplinters
Verb formssplinters, splintering, splintered

Splinter Definition (Noun)

  1. A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood. A small such fragment that gets embedded in the flesh.
  2. A small such fragment that gets embedded in the flesh.
  3. A group that formed by splitting off from a larger membership.
  4. A double-jump bid which indicates shortage in the bid suit.
  5. A fragment of a component word in a blend.

Splinter as a Verb

  1. To come apart into long sharp fragments.

    The tall tree splintered during the storm.

  2. To cause to break apart into long sharp fragments.

    His third kick splintered the door.

  3. To break, or cause to break, into factions.

    The government splintered when the coalition members could not agree.

  4. To fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a broken limb.

Noun

  1. A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood.

Verb

  1. (of a group) To break, or cause to break, into factions.

    The government splintered when the coalition members could not agree.

Synonyms of Splinter

Splinter synonyms and antonyms →

Splinter in a Sentence

The tall tree splintered during the storm.

His third kick splintered the door.

The government splintered when the coalition members could not agree.

The unpopular new policies splintered the company.

Word Forms & Grammar

splinter (plural splinters)

splinter (third-person singular simple present splinters, present participle splintering, simple past and past participle splintered)

Words That Rhyme With Splinter

wintermidwinteroverwinterdot matrix printerreenterwynterlaser printerline printerinter-ink jet printerminterimpact printerthermal printerchain printercharacter printerbar printermatrix printerelectrostatic printerserial printerdot printerstylus printerwire matrix printerwire printerbegin terdewinterdrum printerginterimprint herkinterpage printer

Origin of Splinter

Origin 1: From Middle English splenter, splinter, from Middle Dutch splinter, equivalent to splint +‎ -er.

Origin 2: From the noun splinter.

How Do You Say Splinter?

You say splinter as /ˈsplɪn.tə/. It has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (splɪn).

Common Questions About Splinter

Is splinter a noun or a verb?

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

What is another word for splinter?

Close synonyms of splinter are sliver, secede and break away. See the full list of splinter synonyms and antonyms.

What is the plural of splinter?

The plural of splinter is splinters.

What is the past tense of splinter?

The past tense of splinter is splintered. The present participle is splintering.

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