splinter
SPLIHN-tuh
Splinter (noun) means a thin, sharp fragment broken off from a larger piece, often wood. Example: “She got a splinter in her thumb from the old fence.”
noun
1
A thin, sharp fragment broken off from a larger piece, often wood.
"She got a splinter in her thumb from the old fence."
2
A smaller group that has broken away from a larger organization.
"The splinter faction eventually formed its own political party."
verb
1
To break, or cause to break, into thin sharp pieces.
"The bat splintered on impact with the ball."
2
To break apart into smaller factions.
"The coalition splintered after the election loss."
How to use splinter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sharp broken-off fragment, or to break (literally or figuratively) into smaller pieces.
Common pairings
splinter group
splinter faction
get a splinter
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Word forms
- Plural
- splinters
- Third person singular
- splinters
- Past tense
- splintered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She got a _____ in her thumb from the old fence.
Etymology
From Middle English splinter, from Middle Dutch splinter, built from splint plus the -er suffix.
Related words
Rhymes for splinter
See all rhymes for splinter →Frequently asked questions
What does “splinter” mean?
The word “splinter” means a thin, sharp fragment broken off from a larger piece, often wood. In plain terms, a sharp broken-off fragment, or to break (literally or figuratively) into smaller pieces.
How do you pronounce “splinter”?
“Splinter” is pronounced SPLIHN-tuh (/ˈsplɪn.tə/ in IPA).
How do you use “splinter” in a sentence?
Here is “splinter” used in a sentence: “She got a splinter in her thumb from the old fence.”
What is another word for “splinter”?
Words with a similar meaning to “splinter” include sliver, shard, spelk and spill.
What part of speech is “splinter”?
Depending on how it is used, “splinter” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “splinter” come from?
The word “splinter” comes from Middle English. From Middle English splinter, from Middle Dutch splinter, built from splint plus the -er suffix.
Is “splinter” a common word?
“Splinter” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “splinter” have?
“Splinter” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin, sharp fragment broken off from a larger piece, often wood.
