WordGarden.iodivide
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪvˈaɪd/
US
- /dɪˈvaɪd/
Meanings
Verb
to separate something into parts or groups
to share or distribute something among people or uses
to calculate how many times one number contains another
More meaningsFewer meanings
to form a boundary between places or things
to make people or groups disagree or oppose one another
Noun
a boundary, gap, or separation between places, groups, or systems
Beyond the definition
To divide means to split something into parts, whether it's sharing a pizza among friends, sharing tasks at work, or seeing a group disagree. Sometimes division brings people together—sharing the workload can build teamwork. Other times, it creates distance, as different views can divide communities. You might divide your time between hobbies and chores, or a teacher might divide students into groups for an assignment.
Think of dividing as turning a single whole into many parts. It isn't only about physical objects or numbers; strong disagreements can divide families, while common goals can unite them. In a mathematical sense, you divide one number by another to find out how many times it fits. Whether you are splitting a bill or facing a difficult choice that leaves you feeling divided, the word is basically about separation and sharing things out.
The word "divide" carries multiple layers of meaning, but at its core, it signifies the act of separating a whole into distinct parts or groups. This can be a literal, physical split—like dividing a cake with a knife to share among guests—or a more abstract separation of ideas, opinions, or responsibilities.
As a verb, "divide" often describes the act of distributing something among several people or entities: "The teacher will divide the worksheets equally." It also denotes physical boundaries: "A mountain range divides the two valleys." However, the word often moves into the social and emotional realm. To divide can mean to cause disagreement or conflict, such as when political issues divide a nation, creating factions with opposing beliefs.
In mathematics, "to divide" is one of the four basic arithmetic operations. It involves finding out how many times one number fits into another (e.g., 10 divided by 2 equals 5). This mathematical application emphasizes the concepts of equal distribution, proportion, and ratios.
Historically, "divide" relates to the drawing of boundaries and territories. Throughout history, kingdoms were often divided among heirs, leading to complex and shifting political landscapes. Even in modern discourse, we speak of "dividing lines" or "the great divide" to represent significant gaps in wealth, belief, or technology. Whether you are sharing resources, solving an equation, navigating a conflict, or drawing a border, the act of dividing is fundamental to how we organize and understand the world around us.
Examples
- 1
Food portions
She divided the pizza into eight slices.
- 2
Classroom groups
The teacher divided the class into small groups.
- 3
Shared costs
We divided the cost of the trip between the three of us.
- Patterndivide + thing between people
share it among them
- 4
Math calculation
If you divide 24 by 6, you get 4.
- Patterndivide X by Y
calculate how many times Y fits into X
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Physical separation
A narrow river divides the old town from the newer part of the city.
- Patterndivide A from B
separate one thing from another
- 6
Book structure
The book is divided into three parts.
- 7
Work planning
Let’s divide up the work before we start.
- Phrasedivide up
share something out
- 8
Family conflict
Her decision divided the family.
- 9
Public opinion
The issue has divided opinion for years.
- Patterndivide opinion
make people disagree
- 10
Political disagreement
The country remains deeply divided over immigration.
- Patterndivided over + issue
in strong disagreement about it
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- divideverbnoun
Forms
- dividedpast tenseverbnoun
- dividing-ing formverbnoun
- dividesverbnoun