Division: meaning, definitions and examples
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division
[dɪˈvɪʒ(ə)n ]
Definitions
mathematics
The action of separating something into parts or the process of being separated.
Synonyms
partition, separation, splitting.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
division |
Best used in a mathematical or organizational sense, where something is divided into parts.
|
separation |
Used when referring to the act of making entities distinct or apart from each other, sometimes in social or emotional contexts.
|
splitting |
Used informally and can imply force or energy; often used when something is broken or torn apart.
|
partition |
Often used when something is physically divided, usually with a barrier or a wall.
|
Examples of usage
- The division of the cake into equal slices was done carefully.
- She had to learn long division in her math class.
organization
A separate section or part of a large organization.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
division |
Used to describe major units within a large organization or system, often for administrative purposes. It implies a high level of segregation.
|
department |
Used in organizations to refer to specific areas handling particular functions or responsibilities, usually within a larger division.
|
section |
Often used to describe smaller parts or subsections within a department or a document. It denotes a segment focused on a specific area.
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branch |
Commonly used to refer to the locations or local offices of a larger entity, like banks, libraries, or government offices.
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Examples of usage
- The company's sales division is responsible for the European market.
- He works in the marketing division of the corporation.
sports
A group of teams in a sports league that compete against each other.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
division |
Use when referring to the act of separating something into parts or to describe sections within a larger organization or structure. It often carries a formal tone.
|
group |
Better for more general contexts where you are referring to a collection of people, animals, or things. It is casual and widely used.
|
category |
Ideal for classifying items or concepts based on shared characteristics. Commonly used in contexts related to organization, sorting, and classification.
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league |
Best used in contexts related to sports or competitions. It can also be used metaphorically to describe high levels of skill or quality.
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Examples of usage
- The National Football League has two conferences each with four divisions.
- Our team won the championship in the Eastern Division.
Interesting Facts
Mathematics
- In math, division is one of the four basic operations, which includes addition, subtraction, and multiplication.
- The symbol for division is '÷', but sometimes a line is used, like in fractions.
- Long division is a method used to solve complex division problems step by step.
Historical Origins
- The concept of dividing numbers dates back to ancient civilizations, like the Egyptians, who used it for trade.
- The term 'division' comes from the Latin word 'divisio', meaning 'separation'.
- In ancient Greece, mathematicians such as Euclid laid the foundation for division in their arithmetic studies.
Cultural Significance
- In some cultures, sharing food equally is a tradition, reflecting the principle of division in social practices.
- Sports teams often have divisions based on skill levels, allowing fair competition among varying abilities.
- In music, a division can refer to the way parts of a song are separated or arranged, influencing the overall harmony.
Psychology
- Division of labor in psychology explores how dividing tasks can enhance productivity and efficiency.
- Social division can impact group dynamics and lead to feelings of inclusion or exclusion among people.
- Cognitive division, or splitting information into categories, helps with memory and understanding complex concepts.
Literature
- In literature, division can refer to the separation of themes or characters that reflect different viewpoints.
- The concept of division is often used in narratives to show conflict or contrast between characters or ideas.
- Divisions in poetry, like stanzas, help structure and emphasize different thoughts or emotions within a poem.
Translations
Translations of the word "division" in other languages:
🇵🇹 divisão
🇮🇳 विभाजन
🇩🇪 Teilung
🇮🇩 pembagian
🇺🇦 поділ
🇵🇱 podział
🇯🇵 分割 (bunkatsu)
🇫🇷 division
🇪🇸 división
🇹🇷 bölme
🇰🇷 분할 (bunhal)
🇸🇦 تقسيم (taqseem)
🇨🇿 rozdělení
🇸🇰 rozdelenie
🇨🇳 分割 (fēngē)
🇸🇮 delitev
🇮🇸 skipting
🇰🇿 бөлу (bölu)
🇬🇪 განაწილება (ganatsileba)
🇦🇿 bölmə
🇲🇽 división