split
n. countablen. a division or break in something that was once a single unit. You use this when people in a group disagree and separate, or when an object physically breaks into two parts.
n. a division or separation of a group, entity, or physical object into two or more distinct parts. Often used to describe a formal break in a relationship or a disagreement within a political or social organisation.
The argument caused a permanent split in the family.
After months of internal tension, the political party suffered a major split over the new tax policy.
The geological survey revealed a deep split in the rock formation, suggesting that tectonic activity had significantly altered the landscape over several millennia.
Borrowed from Serbo-Croatian Splȉt, from Italian Spalato, from Latin Spalatum, from Ancient Greek Σπάλαθος (Spálathos) and Ἀσπάλαθος (Aspálathos), from ἀσπάλαθος (aspálathos, “spiny broom”), a common shrub in the area.
Commonly used with the preposition 'in' to describe the location of the break or 'between' to describe the parties involved.