Divide

English Meaning

To part asunder (a whole); to sever into two or more parts or pieces; to sunder; to separate into parts.

1. To separate into parts, sections, groups, or branches: divided the students into four groups. See Synonyms at separate.
2. To sector into units of measurement; graduate: The ruler was divided into metric units.
3. To separate and group according to kind; classify: divided the plants by genus.
4. To cause to separate into opposing factions; disunite: "They want not to divide either the Revolution or the Church but to be an integral part of both” ( Conor Cruise O'Brien).
5. To cause (members of a parliament) to vote by separating into groups, as pro and con.
6. To separate from something else; cut off: A mountain chain divides France and Spain.
7. To apportion among a number: Volunteers divided the different jobs among themselves. See Synonyms at distribute.
8. Mathematics To subject (a number) to the process of division: divided 20 by 4.
9. Mathematics To be a divisor of: 3 divides 9.
10. Mathematics To use (a number) as a divisor: divided 5 into 35.
11. To become separated into parts.
12. To branch out, as a river.
13. To form into factions; take sides: The party divided evenly on the tax issue.
14. To vote by dividing.
15. Mathematics To perform the operation of division.
16. Biology To undergo cell division.
17. A dividing point or line: "would clearly tip the court . . . across a dangerous constitutional divide” ( Lawrence H. Tribe).
18. A ridge of land; a watershed.