Standard Lemma guide

splinter

name · noun · verb · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈsplɪn.tə/
  • Received-Pronunciation: [ˈspl̥ɪn.thə]
  • /ˈsplɪn.tɚ/ without nt-flapping
  • [ˈspl̥ɪn.thə] ~ [ˈspl̥ɪn.thɐ̝] without nt-flapping
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈsplɪn̆.ə/ nt-flapping
  • [ˈspl̥ɪn̆.ə] ~ [ˈspl̥ɪn̆.ɐ̝] nt-flapping
  • [ˈspl̥ɪn.thɚ] ~ [ˈspl̥ɪn.thɚ] without nt-flapping
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈsplɪɾ̃.ɚ/ nt-flapping
  • [ˈspl̥ɪɾ̃.ɚ] ~ [ˈspl̥ɪɾ̃.ɹ̩] nt-flapping
  • rhymes with -ɪntə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: S P L IH1 N T ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

name

Meaning 1

A surname.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood.

A small such fragment that gets embedded in the flesh.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A group that formed by splitting off from a larger membership.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A double-jump bid which indicates shortage in the bid suit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: bridge, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A fragment of a component word in a blend.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To come apart into long sharp fragments.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • The tall tree splintered during the storm.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To cause to break apart into long sharp fragments.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • His third kick splintered the door.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To break, or cause to break, into factions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • The government splintered when the coalition members could not agree.
  • The unpopular new policies splintered the company.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a broken limb.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he got a splinter in his finger
  • it broke into slivers

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sliver

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bit, chip, flake, fleck, scrap

12

verb

Meaning 12

break up into splinters or slivers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The wood splintered

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sliver

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: break up, fragment, fragmentize, fragmentise

13

verb

Meaning 13

divide into slivers or splinters

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sliver

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: divide, split, split up, separate, dissever, carve up

14

verb

Meaning 14

withdraw from an organization or communion

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: secede, break away

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: separate, part, split up, split, break, break up

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch and North German Splinter.

From Middle English splenter, splinter, from Middle Dutch splinter, equivalent to splint + -er.

From the noun splinter.

Across languages

Translations

196 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: شَظِيَّة (šaẓiyya) — fragment of material
  • Armenian: տաշեղ (tašeġ) — fragment of material
  • Aromanian: ashclji — fragment of material
  • Aromanian: aschlje — fragment of material
  • Azerbaijani: tilişkə — fragment of material
  • Basque: ezpal — fragment of material
  • Belarusian: ска́бка (skábka) — fragment of material
  • Belarusian: стрэ́мка (strémka) — fragment of material
  • Bulgarian: отло́мък (otlómǎk) — fragment of material
  • Bulgarian: треска́ (treská) — fragment of material
  • Catalan: estella — fragment of material
  • Cherokee: ᎤᏢᏓᎸᏓ (utlvdalvda) — fragment of material
  • Chinese Mandarin: 碎片 (suìpiàn) — fragment of material
  • Chinese Mandarin: 刺 (cì) — fragment of material
  • Czech: tříska — fragment of material
  • Czech: úlomek — fragment of material
  • Czech: odštěpek — fragment of material
  • Dalmatian: sčela — fragment of material
  • Danish: splint — fragment of material
  • Dutch: splinter — fragment of material
  • Esperanto: splito — fragment of material
  • Estonian: pind — fragment of material
  • Estonian: kild — fragment of material
  • Finnish: säle — fragment of material
  • Finnish: sirpale — fragment of material
  • Finnish: pirstale — fragment of material
  • French: éclat — fragment of material
  • French: esquille — fragment of material
  • French: écharde — fragment of material
  • Friulian: sclese — fragment of material
  • Friulian: scae — fragment of material
  • Galician: estela — fragment of material
  • Galician: racha — fragment of material
  • Galician: acha — fragment of material
  • Galician: pitela — fragment of material
  • Galician: cavaco — fragment of material
  • Galician: guizo — fragment of material
  • Galician: lerca — fragment of material
  • Galician: escádea — fragment of material
  • Galician: trisca — fragment of material
  • Galician: turraca — fragment of material
  • Galician: lircha — fragment of material
  • Galician: troupecelo — fragment of material
  • Georgian: ხიწვი (xic̣vi) — fragment of material
  • Georgian: ხიჭვი (xič̣vi) — fragment of material
  • German: Splitter — fragment of material
  • German: Splinter — fragment of material
  • German: Schiefer — fragment of material
  • German: Spreißel — fragment of material
  • Greek: σκλήθρα (sklíthra) — fragment of material
  • Greek: θραύσμα (thráfsma) — fragment of material
  • Greek: ακίδα (akída) — fragment of material
  • Ancient Greek: σχινδάλαμος (skhindálamos) — fragment of material
  • Hebrew: קֵיסָם (kesám) — fragment of material
  • Hebrew: שְׁבָב (shvav) — fragment of material
  • Hungarian: forgács — fragment of material
  • Hungarian: szálka — fragment of material
  • Ingrian: päre — fragment of material
  • Irish: scealp — fragment of material
  • Irish: scealpóg — fragment of material
  • Italian: scheggia — fragment of material
  • Japanese: 破片 (hahen) — fragment of material
  • Japanese: 刺 (toge) — fragment of material
  • Khmer: ចំរាស (cɑmriəh) — fragment of material
  • Korean: 조각 (jogak) — fragment of material
  • Korean: 지저깨비 (jijeokkaebi) — fragment of material
  • Lao: ສ້ຽນ (sīan) — fragment of material
  • Latin: assula — fragment of material
  • Latin: schidia — fragment of material
  • Latvian: skaida — fragment of material
  • Latvian: skabarga — fragment of material
  • Lithuanian: drožlė — fragment of material
  • Lithuanian: rakštis — fragment of material
  • Macedonian: спица (spica) — fragment of material
  • Macedonian: деланка (delanka) — fragment of material
  • Macedonian: треска (treska) — fragment of material
  • Māori: koi — fragment of material
  • Norman: êclyi — fragment of material
  • Norwegian Bokmål: flis — fragment of material
  • Occitan: astèla — fragment of material
  • Occitan: estèla — fragment of material
  • Occitan: ascla — fragment of material
  • Occitan: esquilha — fragment of material
  • Old English: speld — fragment of material
  • Persian: تریشه (teriše) — fragment of material
  • Plautdietsch: Spekja — fragment of material
  • Polish: odłamek — fragment of material
  • Polish: drzazga — fragment of material
  • Portuguese: farpa — fragment of material
  • Romanian: așchie — fragment of material
  • Russian: ще́пка (ščépka) — fragment of material
  • Russian: зано́за (zanóza) — fragment of material
  • Sardinian: alcia — fragment of material
  • Sardinian: ascia — fragment of material
  • Sardinian: ascra — fragment of material
  • Sardinian: astua — fragment of material
  • Sardinian: astula — fragment of material
  • Sardinian: schedra — fragment of material
  • Sardinian: schelda — fragment of material
  • Scots: spail — fragment of material
  • Scots: pran — fragment of material
  • Scottish Gaelic: spealg — fragment of material
  • Slovak: trieska — fragment of material
  • Slovak: štiepka — fragment of material
  • Slovene: trska — fragment of material
  • Spanish: astilla — fragment of material
  • Spanish: esquirla — fragment of material
  • Swedish: flisa — fragment of material
  • Swedish: sticka — fragment of material
  • Tagalog: subyang — fragment of material
  • Tajik: параха (paraxa) — fragment of material
  • Thai: เสี้ยน (sîian) — fragment of material
  • Turkish: kıymık — fragment of material
  • Ukrainian: ска́бка (skábka) — fragment of material
  • Ukrainian: ска́лка (skálka) — fragment of material
  • Venetan: sgrexénda — fragment of material
  • Venetan: s-cexa — fragment of material
  • Walloon: schete — fragment of material
  • Czech: frakce — group
  • Dutch: splintergroep — group
  • Finnish: sirpaleryhmä — group
  • French: faction — group
  • Galician: bandaría — group
  • Galician: bando — group
  • Galician: faución — group
  • German: Splittergruppe — group
  • Italian: fazione — group
  • Lithuanian: trupinys — group
  • Polish: odłam — group
  • Portuguese: facção — group
  • Romanian: facțiune — group
  • Russian: отщепе́нцы (otščepéncy) — group
  • Slovak: frakcia — group
  • Swedish: avknoppning — group
  • Swedish: utbrytning — group
  • Swedish: utbrytargrupp — group
  • Bulgarian: разцепвам се (razcepvam se) — to come apart into splinters
  • Catalan: estellar — to come apart into splinters
  • Czech: štěpit se — to come apart into splinters
  • Dutch: versplinteren — to come apart into splinters
  • Dutch: splinteren — to come apart into splinters
  • Finnish: pirstoutua — to come apart into splinters
  • Finnish: mennä säpäleiksi — to come apart into splinters
  • French: broyer — to come apart into splinters
  • Galician: estelar — to come apart into splinters
  • Galician: espitallar — to come apart into splinters
  • Galician: lascar — to come apart into splinters
  • Galician: lasquear — to come apart into splinters
  • German: zersplittern — to come apart into splinters
  • Italian: scheggiarsi — to come apart into splinters
  • Portuguese: esfarpar — to come apart into splinters
  • Russian: расщепляться (rasščepljatʹsja) — to come apart into splinters
  • Russian: раскалываться (raskalyvatʹsja) — to come apart into splinters
  • Scottish Gaelic: spealg — to come apart into splinters
  • Slovak: štiepiť sa — to come apart into splinters
  • Slovak: rozštiepiť sa — to come apart into splinters
  • Spanish: astillarse — to come apart into splinters
  • Bulgarian: цепя (cepja) — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Bulgarian: разцепвам (razcepvam) — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Czech: štípat — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Dutch: versplinteren — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Finnish: pirstoa — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Finnish: lyödä säpäleiksi — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Finnish: panna päreiksi — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Galician: rachar — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Galician: estelar — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Galician: espitallar — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Galician: lascar — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Galician: lasquear — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • German: zersplittern — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Italian: scheggiare — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Portuguese: esfarpar — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Russian: расщеплять (rasščepljatʹ) — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Russian: раскалывать (raskalyvatʹ) — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Scottish Gaelic: spealg — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Slovak: štiepať — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Slovak: rozštiepať — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Slovak: rozbiť — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Slovak: rozbíjať — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Slovak: sekať — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Slovak: rozsekať — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Spanish: astillar — to cause to break apart into splinters
  • Bulgarian: разцепвам (razcepvam) — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Czech: odštěpit se — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Finnish: hajota — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Finnish: hajottaa — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Italian: fare a pezzi — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Italian: dividere — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Slovak: rozdeliť — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Slovak: rozdeliť sa — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Slovak: štiepiť — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Slovak: rozštiepiť — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Slovak: štiepiť sa — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Slovak: rozštiepiť sa — to break or cause to break into factions
  • Bulgarian: шинирам (šiniram) — to fasten or confine with splints
  • Finnish: lastoittaa — to fasten or confine with splints
Real reading context

splinter in complete knowledge articles