divide
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to split one thing into two or more smaller parts.
v.to separate a whole into constituent parts or distinct sections.
Simple“The river divides the city into two very different neighborhoods.”
In context“The architect decided to divide the open-plan office using glass partitions to maintain a sense of light while reducing noise levels.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
v.to give parts of something to different people.
v.to distribute or apportion a whole among several recipients.
Simple“We should divide the pizza equally so everyone gets two slices.”
In context“The inheritance was divided among the three siblings according to the specific instructions left in their father's will.”
Synonyms - 03 A2 Elementary
v.to find out how many times one number fits into another.
v.to perform the mathematical operation of determining how many times a divisor is contained within a dividend.
Simple“If you divide twelve by three, the answer is four.”
In context“The software is programmed to divide the total revenue by the number of active users to calculate the average profit per person.”
Antonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
v.to make people disagree or argue with each other.
v.to cause a group of people to become disunited or hostile due to differing opinions.
Simple“The new law continues to divide the public into two angry groups.”
In context“The controversial proposal to build a highway through the national park deeply divided the local community.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.when a living cell splits to make new cells.
v.of a biological cell, to undergo mitosis or meiosis to reproduce.
Simple“Bacteria can divide very quickly in warm conditions.”
In context“The researchers observed the cancer cells as they began to divide uncontrollably under the microscope.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a large difference or disagreement between two groups of people.
n.a significant difference or separation between two groups, often regarding wealth, culture, or politics.
Simple“There is a growing divide between people living in the city and those in the country.”
In context“The digital divide remains a major hurdle for students in rural areas who lack reliable high-speed internet access.”
- 07 C1 Advanced
n.a high line of land, like a ridge, that separates where rivers flow.
n.a ridge of high land that separates two different river systems or drainage basins.
Simple“The Continental Divide determines whether water flows toward the Atlantic or the Pacific.”
In context“The expedition struggled to cross the mountain divide before the first heavy snows of the season blocked the pass.”
Usage divide still exist
“And the West itself is divided on the best response.”
“Under this traditional model, kings, priests, and other powerful leaders gained control of wealth and resources, causing the divide between rich and poor to expand.”
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dews-? Proto-Indo-European *dus- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwís Latin dis- ▲ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *h₁weydʰh₁-der. Proto-Italic *wiðō Latin *vidō Latin dīvidōder. Middle English dividen English divide PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English dividen, from Latin dīvidere (“to divide”). Displaced native Old English tōdǣlan.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.