verb

divide

dih-VYD

verb

To split something into two or more parts.

"Divide the dough into four equal pieces."

"The river divides the city into east and west halves."

In mathematics, to work out how many times one number goes into another.

"Divide 20 by 4 and you get 5."

To cause disagreement or split opinion among a group of people.

"The proposal divided the committee, with half in favour and half against."

noun

A significant difference or gap separating two groups or things.

"There's a growing divide between rural and urban voters."

"The digital divide leaves many rural areas without fast internet."

How to Use Divide

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo split something into parts, whether that's a cake, a calculation, or people's opinions — or, as a noun, the gap that results.

Common mistake

Remember the sum works as "dividend ÷ divisor = quotient" — the dividend is the number being split up, not the one doing the splitting.

Common pairings

divide opinion a deep divide divide by zero

Word Forms

divided past tense, divide plural, divided plural, divides plural, divides singular, divide singular, divided singular, dividest singular, dividedst singular, divideth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ the dough into four equal pieces.

Etymology

From Middle English dividen, from Latin dīvidere, "to divide" — it replaced the native Old English word tōdǣlan.

Synonyms

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becut decide discerp disintegrate dispart dissever divorce divvy up part partition piecemeal rescind

Antonyms

annex coalesce combine join merge unify unite

Related Words

abandon take last piece graft break choose leave

Rhymes for divide

ide tide hide ride wide side bide aide FIDE abide slide bride

See all rhymes for divide →

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becut decide discerp disintegrate dispart dissever divorce divvy up part partition piecemeal rescind