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 parts

Divide the pastry and roll out one part.

divide something into pairs/groups/parts etc:

Divide the class into three groups.

a) [intransitive] to have separate parts, or to form into separate groups

divide into:

The film divides into two distinct halves.

b) [transitive] to separate something into smaller parts and share the parts between people

Work out how you would like to divide the money.

divide something between/among someone:

After his death his property was divided among his children.

2) [transitive] to keep two or more areas or parts separate

the wall that divides the playground and the sports field

divide something from something:

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.

10 divided by 2 is 5.

divide by:

Add 50 to your original number, then divide by six.

4)

a) [transitive] to be the cause of disagreement between people, especially within a group

a subject that divided the nation

The ruling class was divided by internal conflicts.

b) [intransitive] to disagree and form smaller groups

divide along party/religious/ethnic etc lines (= according to your political party, religion, race etc):

MPs look certain to divide along party lines.

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See:

divided

5) [intransitive] if a road divides, it separates into two roads

When 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

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- divide and rule

- divide your time between

Phrasal verbs:

- divide into

- divide off

- divide up

II UK [dɪˈvaɪd] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "divide":
singular divide plural divides

1) [usually singular] an important difference or disagreement between two people or groups

the North-South divide (= political and economic differences between areas in the north and south)

divide between:

There's a clear divide between the two parties on the issue of taxation.

2) American a watershed