English Reference

Word

divider

Phoneticsdi·vider

US/dɪˈvaɪdɝ/

UK/dɪvˈaɪdɐ/

Countable noun

Definition

n. a thin wall or line that separates two things. You use it to keep things organized or to make sure they do not touch each other.

n. a physical partition or a line that separates two distinct areas, objects, or groups. Often used in technical contexts to describe a component that separates signals or a physical barrier in a room.

Examples

“She uses a plastic divider to keep her pens and pencils separate.”

“The office manager installed a glass divider between the two desks to reduce noise and improve privacy.”

“In electrical engineering, a signal divider is a circuit that reduces the amplitude of an input signal by a fixed ratio, allowing for safe measurement of high-voltage sources.”

Examples

simple

“She uses a plastic divider to keep her pens and pencils separate.”

contextual

“The office manager installed a glass divider between the two desks to reduce noise and improve privacy.”

complex

“In electrical engineering, a signal divider is a circuit that reduces the amplitude of an input signal by a fixed ratio, allowing for safe measurement of high-voltage sources.”

Real-World Examples

“I know, because we do not have one of those dividers in the silverware drawer that keeps the forks separate from the knives.”
The Guardian 3 Oct 2015

Etymology

PIE word *dwóh₁ From divide + -er.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

divider(B2)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Occasional
Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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English Reference