- divide
- I UK [dɪˈvaɪd] / US
verb
Word forms "divide":
present tense I/you/we/they divide he/she/it divides present participle dividing past tense divided past participle divided
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1) divide or diˌvide ˈup[transitive] to separate people or things into smaller groups or partsdivide something into pairs/groups/parts etc:Divide the pastry and roll out one part.
Divide the class into three groups.
a) [intransitive] to have separate parts, or to form into separate groupsdivide into:The film divides into two distinct halves.
b) [transitive] to separate something into smaller parts and share the parts between peopledivide something between/among someone:Work out how you would like to divide the money.
After his death his property was divided among his children.
2) [transitive] to keep two or more areas or parts separatedivide something from something:the wall that divides the playground and the sports field
The railway divides their family's land from the plains below.
3) [intransitive/transitive] maths to do a mathematical calculation to find out how many times a number contains a smaller number. This is usually shown by the symbol ÷divide something by something:Divide 9 by 3.
divide by:10 divided by 2 is 5.
Add 50 to your original number, then divide by six.
4)a) [transitive] to be the cause of disagreement between people, especially within a groupa subject that divided the nation
The ruling class was divided by internal conflicts.
b) [intransitive] to disagree and form smaller groupsdivide along party/religious/ethnic etc lines (= according to your political party, religion, race etc):MPs look certain to divide along party lines.
••See:5) [intransitive] if a road divides, it separates into two roadsWhen the road divides, take the left-hand route.
6) [intransitive] biology if a cell in a plant or animal divides, it separates into two cells so that a new cell is formed•Phrasal verbs:
II UK [dɪˈvaɪd] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "divide":
singular divide plural divides1) [usually singular] an important difference or disagreement between two people or groupsdivide between:the North-South divide (= political and economic differences between areas in the north and south)
There's a clear divide between the two parties on the issue of taxation.
2) American a watershed
English dictionary. 2014.