dɪˈvaɪd v. & n. --v. 1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by
in, into)
separate or be separated
into parts; break
up;
split (the
river divides into
two;
the road divides; divided
them into
three groups). 2 tr. & intr. (often foll. by out)
distribute; deal; share (divided it
out between them). 3 tr. a
cut off; separate;
part (divide the
sheep from the goats). b mark out into parts (a
ruler divided into inches). c
specify different kinds
of,
classify (people can be divided into two types). 4 tr.
cause to
disagree; set at
variance (religion divided them). 5
Math. a tr.
find how
many times (a number) contains
another (divide 20 by 4). b intr. (of a number) be contained in (a number)
without a
remainder (4 divides into 20). c intr. be
susceptible of
division (10 divides by 2
and 5). d tr. find how many times (a number) is contained in another (divide 4 into 20). 6 intr. Math. do division (can divide well). 7 Parl. a intr. (of a
legislative assembly etc.) part into two groups
for voting (the
House divided). b tr. so divide (a
Parliament etc.) for voting. --n. 1 a dividing or
boundary line (the divide between
rich and poor). 2 a
watershed. ødivided
against itself formed into factions. divided
highway US a
dual carriageway. divided
skirt culottes. the
Great Divide the boundary between
life and
death. [ME f. L dividere divis(as
DI-(2), vidseparate)]