# division

/dɪˈvɪʒən/ (US) · /dɪvˈɪʒən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/division
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. splitting into parts

noun · CEFR B1

the act of separating something into two or more parts.

For teachers: the act or process of partitioning a whole into constituent parts.

- The division of the huge cake into small slices took a long time.
- The rapid division of cells is a fundamental process in the growth of all living organisms.

### 2. mathematics

noun · CEFR A2

the process of finding out how many times one number fits into another.

For teachers: the mathematical operation of determining how many times one quantity is contained within another.

- The teacher showed the children how to do long division on the blackboard.
- Advanced calculus often requires a firm grasp of basic arithmetic operations, including long division and multiplication.

### 3. company department

noun · CEFR B2

a large section or department of a big company.

For teachers: a major administrative or operational unit within a large business or governmental organization.

- She works in the sales division of a multinational software company.
- The corporation decided to spin off its overseas division into an independent entity to improve financial transparency.

### 4. disagreement

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where people disagree strongly about something.

For teachers: a significant difference of opinion or a lack of agreement between groups, often leading to conflict.

- There is a deep division in the town about the new road project.
- The proposed policy created a sharp division within the cabinet, with several ministers threatening to resign in protest.

### 5. military unit

noun · CEFR B2

a large group of soldiers that forms part of an army.

For teachers: a large military unit, typically consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers, commanded by a major general.

- The armored division moved toward the border during the night.
- The general ordered the infantry division to hold the ridge until reinforcements could arrive from the north.

### 6. sports league level

noun · CEFR B1

a group of teams that play against each other in a league.

For teachers: a group of teams or athletes competing at a similar level within a professional sports league.

- Our local team was promoted to the first division after a great season.
- The club struggled to remain competitive after being promoted to the top division, eventually facing relegation the following year.

### 7. biological classification

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a way to group plants or fungi that are similar.

For teachers: a taxonomic rank in botany and mycology, equivalent to phylum in zoology, used to group related classes.

- In biology class, we learned that conifers belong to a specific division of plants.
- The researcher identified a new species that did not fit into any existing division of the fungal kingdom.

### 8. voting method

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · British English

a way of voting in parliament where people walk into different rooms to show their choice.

For teachers: a formal method of voting in a legislative body where members physically separate into groups to be counted.

- The speaker of the house called for a division to settle the close vote.
- When the voice vote proved inconclusive, the opposition demanded a formal division to record each member's stance on the bill.

## Examples

- The division of the cake into eight pieces was fair.
- She works in the marketing division of a large international software company based in London.
- The internal division within the committee became apparent when the members failed to reach a consensus on the proposed budget cuts for the upcoming fiscal year.

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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.