split

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To divide or break something into parts, often along a line.

   We split the pizza into four equal pieces.

2. 2
   verb

   To share something between people.

   They split the cost of the meal among the three of them.

3. 3
   verb

   To leave a place, especially quickly (informal).

   It's getting late, so let's split.

4. 4
   noun

   A crack or tear that divides something lengthwise.

   There was a long split down the side of the old wooden table.

Attested since about 1567, from Middle Dutch splitten (“to split”) and/or Middle Low German splitten (“to split”), both ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *splittjan, an intensive form of Proto-West Germanic *splītan (“to split”), from Proto-Germanic *splītaną (whence Danish splitte, Low German splieten, German spleißen), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pley- (“to split, splice”). Compare Middle English ysplett (“split”, past participle of splatten (“to split”)), Old English speld (“splinter”), Old High German spaltan (“to split”), Middle Irish slis (“splinter”), Lithuanian spaliai (“flax sheave…

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