divide: Meaning and Definition of

di•vide

Pronunciation: (di-vīd'), [key]
— v., n. -vid•ed, -vid•ing,
—v.t.
  1. to separate into parts, groups, sections, etc.
  2. to separate or part from something else; sunder; cut off.
  3. to deal out in parts; distribute in shares; apportion.
  4. to cleave; part.
  5. to separate in opinion or feeling; cause to disagree: The issue divided the senators.
  6. to distinguish the kinds of; classify.
  7. Eight divided by four is two.
    1. to separate into equal parts by the process of mathematical division; apply the mathematical process of division to:Eight divided by four is two.
    2. to be a divisor of, without a remainder.
  8. to mark a uniform scale on (a ruler, thermometer, etc.).
  9. to separate (a legislature, assembly, etc.) into two groups in ascertaining the vote on a question.
—v.i.
  1. to become divided or separated.
  2. to share something with others.
  3. to diverge; branch; fork: The road divides six miles from here.
  4. to perform the mathematical process of division: He could add and subtract but hadn't learned to divide.
  5. to vote by separating into two groups.
—n.
  1. a division: a divide in the road.
  2. the line or zone of higher ground between two adjacent streams or drainage basins.
  3. the act of dividing.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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