division

Division is defined as separation or a difference of opinion.

(noun)

An example of division is when you break up a set of bookends into two pieces.
An example of division is when people within a political party disagree about the passage of a bill.

See division in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a dividing or being divided; separation
a sharing or apportioning; distribution
a difference of opinion; disagreement
a separation into groups in voting
anything that divides; partition; boundary
anything separated or distinguished from the whole or from the larger unit of which it is a part, as
1. a particular section of a country, state, etc. divided off as for administration
2. a particular department of a government, business, school, or other organization
3. a particular rank or kind, as of students or athletes, based on achievement, age, sex, etc.
4. a segment, as of the body
Biol. a major category in the classification of living organisms, esp. plants, ranking above a class and below a kingdom: it can include one class or many similar classes: the Latinized division names are capitalized but not italicized (Ex.: Pinophyta, gymnosperms)
Hort. a form of plant propagation in which new plants are grown from segments detached from the parent plant
Math. the process of finding how many times a number (the divisor) is contained in another number (the dividend): the number of times equals the quotient
Mil. a major tactical or administrative unit that can act independently and is under one command; specif.,
1. an army unit larger than a regiment and smaller than a corps, to which various numbers and types of battalions can be attached as required
2. a tactical subdivision of a naval squadron
3. an air force unit of two or more combat wings

Origin: ME divisioun < L divisio < divisus, pp. of dividere

Related Forms:

See division in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. The act or process of dividing.
b. The state of having been divided.
Mathematics The operation of determining how many times one quantity is contained in another; the inverse of multiplication.
The proportional distribution of a quantity or entity.
Something, such as a boundary or partition, that serves to divide or keep separate.
One of the parts, sections, or groups into which something is divided.
a. An area of government or corporate activity organized as an administrative or functional unit.
b. A territorial section marked off for political or governmental purposes.
a. An administrative and tactical military unit that is smaller than a corps but is self-contained and equipped for prolonged combat activity.
b. A group of several ships of similar type forming a tactical unit under a single command in the U.S. Navy.
c. A unit of the U.S. Air Force larger than a wing and smaller than an air force.
Botany The highest taxonomic category, consisting of one or more related classes, and corresponding approximately to a phylum in zoological classification. See Table at taxonomy.
A category created for purposes of competition, as in boxing.
a. Variance of opinion; disagreement.
b. A splitting into factions; disunion.
The physical separation and regrouping of members of a parliament according to their stand on an issue put to vote.
Biology Cell division.
A type of propagation characteristic of plants that spread by means of newly formed parts such as bulbs, suckers, or rhizomes.