divide

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To separate something into two or more parts.

   We divided the cake into eight equal pieces.

2. 2
   verb

   To share something between people.

   They divided the prize money equally among the team.

3. 3
   verb

   To work out how many times one number contains another.

   If you divide 12 by 4, you get 3.

4. 4
   verb

   To cause people to disagree and split into opposing groups.

   The controversial plan divided the whole community.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *h₁weydʰh₁-der. Proto-Italic *wiðō Latin *vidō Latin dīvidōder. Middle English dividen English divide PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English dividen, from Latin dīvidere (“to divide”). Displaced native Old English tōdǣlan.

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