Divide: meaning, definitions and examples

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divide

[ dɪˈvaɪd ]

^{Context #1}

mathematics

To separate into equal parts or groups.

Synonyms

partition, separate, split

Examples of usage

She divided the cake into six pieces.
The students divided themselves into teams of four.

^{Context #2}

social

To cause disagreement or conflict between people.

Synonyms

divide up, sever, split

Examples of usage

The controversial issue divided the community.
The political debate divided the nation.

^{Context #3}

mathematics

A process or operation in which a number is divided by another.

Synonyms

partition, separation, split

Examples of usage

The division of 12 by 3 is 4.
Long division is a method for dividing numbers.

Translations

Translations of the word "divide" in other languages:

🇵🇹 dividir

🇮🇳 विभाजित करना (vibhajit karna)

🇩🇪 teilen

🇮🇩 membagi

🇺🇦 ділити

🇵🇱 dzielić

🇯🇵 分ける (wakeru)

🇫🇷 diviser

🇪🇸 dividir

🇹🇷 bölmek

🇰🇷 나누다 (nanuda)

🇸🇦 يقسم (yaqsim)

🇨🇿 dělit

🇸🇰 deliť

🇨🇳 分开 (fēnkāi)

🇸🇮 deliti

🇮🇸 skipta

🇰🇿 бөлу (bölu)

🇬🇪 გაყოფა (gaqopa)

🇦🇿 bölmək

🇲🇽 dividir

Word origin

The word 'divide' originated from the Latin word 'dividere', which means 'to force apart'. The concept of division has been used in mathematics for centuries to represent the splitting of quantities into equal parts. In social contexts, division can refer to the separation of people or ideas, leading to conflict or disagreement. The symbol for division, the obelus (➗), has been used since the 17th century to represent this mathematical operation.