# divide

/dɪˈvaɪd/ (US) · /dɪvˈaɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/divide
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to split into parts

verb · CEFR A2

to split one thing into two or more smaller parts.

For teachers: to separate a whole into constituent parts or distinct sections.

- The river divides the city into two very different neighborhoods.
- The architect decided to divide the open-plan office using glass partitions to maintain a sense of light while reducing noise levels.

### 2. to share

verb · CEFR A2

to give parts of something to different people.

For teachers: to distribute or apportion a whole among several recipients.

- We should divide the pizza equally so everyone gets two slices.
- The inheritance was divided among the three siblings according to the specific instructions left in their father's will.

### 3. mathematics

verb · CEFR A2

to find out how many times one number fits into another.

For teachers: to perform the mathematical operation of determining how many times a divisor is contained within a dividend.

- If you divide twelve by three, the answer is four.
- The software is programmed to divide the total revenue by the number of active users to calculate the average profit per person.

### 4. to cause disagreement

verb · CEFR B1

to make people disagree or argue with each other.

For teachers: to cause a group of people to become disunited or hostile due to differing opinions.

- The new law continues to divide the public into two angry groups.
- The controversial proposal to build a highway through the national park deeply divided the local community.

### 5. biology

verb · CEFR B2

when a living cell splits to make new cells.

For teachers: of a biological cell, to undergo mitosis or meiosis to reproduce.

- Bacteria can divide very quickly in warm conditions.
- The researchers observed the cancer cells as they began to divide uncontrollably under the microscope.

### 6. a big difference

noun · CEFR B2

a large difference or disagreement between two groups of people.

For teachers: a significant difference or separation between two groups, often regarding wealth, culture, or politics.

- There is a growing divide between people living in the city and those in the country.
- The digital divide remains a major hurdle for students in rural areas who lack reliable high-speed internet access.

### 7. geography

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a high line of land, like a ridge, that separates where rivers flow.

For teachers: a ridge of high land that separates two different river systems or drainage basins.

- The Continental Divide determines whether water flows toward the Atlantic or the Pacific.
- The expedition struggled to cross the mountain divide before the first heavy snows of the season blocked the pass.

## Examples

- There is a growing divide between the city and the countryside.
- The new policy failed to address the digital divide between students who have internet access and those who do not.
- The cultural divide between the two neighboring regions has narrowed significantly since the introduction of the high-speed rail link and shared educational initiatives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.