splinter
splinter
Definition
splin·ter (splin′tər)
transitive verb, intransitive verb
- to break or split into thin, sharp pieces
- to break into small parts or into groups with divergent views; fragment
Etymology: ME < MDu, akin to splinte, splint
noun
- a thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, etc., made by splitting or breaking; sliver
- a splinter group
adjective
designating a group that separates from a main party, church, etc. because of divergent views
splinter
Synonyms
splinter
Synonyms
splinter
Usage Examples
Object
- bone: The splintered bones were in such a large quantity that this must be a multiple burial.
- wood: Pressing against the splintered wood of the old barn she just hoped the figure going past did not notice her.
Converse of object
- remove: The Baja Web site assures that getting rid of the microchip is a simple and harmless procedure, something like removing a splinter.
- get: An old woman had 2 months previously, got a splinter in the skin on her right forearm.
- do: Ensure the wood does not splinter outward by working from both sides.
- have: Has anyone ever had a splinter from a second hand or old cymbal?
- see: Christ commands us to see not only the splinter in our adversary's eye, but also the beam in our own.
Preposition: into
- piece: They splinter into small pieces and you can hear the sudden crack of breaking bones over the deeper noises of the factory.
Adjective modifier
- shell: He'd been hit in the eye with a shell splinter.
- small: Wooden toys tend to be safer for birds as small splinters can break off plastic toys if they are pecked too much.
Modifies a noun
- group: Put off the by the queue or the music, a splinter group headed next door to the Prince of Wales.
- cell: Splinter Cell, or to give it its full title, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, turned quite a few heads upon release.
Noun used with modifier
- shell: I counted 22 bullet holes and one large hole where a shell splinter had entered, finishing in the galley.
- glass: So a glass splinter will not itch or irritate, and so it will work into your body.
- metal: Penetrating trauma of the soft tissues of the neck caused by a metal splinter.
Preposition: of
- wood: He says it was caused by a splinter of wood entering his head from a shot on board a boat.
- bone: Turning back to his foe the mage unleashed a volley of three magic missiles then ducked as splinters of bone flew through the air.
- glass: I had to pick the splinters of glass out of his head.
Followed by an intransitive particle
- off: This is a potential area for damage as the wood is easily knocked and could splinter off.
Browse dictionary entries near splinter
- splint bone
- splint
- spline
- spliff
- spliced
- splice tray
- splice case
- splice
- splenomegaly
- spleno-
