Splinter

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈsplɪn.tə/, SAMPA: /"splIn.t@/
• (US) IPA: /ˈsplɪn.tɚ/, SAMPA: "splIn.t@`/

  Audio (US)

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• (Southern US) IPA: /ˈsplɪn.ɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɪntə(r)

Noun

Splinter (plural Splinters)

1. A long, sharp fragment of material; often wood.
2. A group that formed by splitting off from a larger membership.

Synonyms

• (long sharp fragment): shard, spelk.
• (group formed by splitting): faction, splinter group.

Verb

Splinter (third-person singular simple present Splinters, present participle Splintering, simple past and past participle Splintered)

1. (intransitive) To come apart into long sharp fragments.

   The tall tree splintered during the storm.

2. (transitive) To cause to break apart into long sharp fragments.

   His third kick splintered the door.

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

Related terms

• splint
• splinter up