| splinter | |
| 1. n. A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood. | |
| 2. n. A group that formed by splitting off from a larger membership. | |
| 3. v. (intransitive) To come apart into long sharp fragments. | |
| The tall tree splintered during the storm. | |
| 4. v. To cause to break apart into long sharp fragments. | |
| His third kick splintered the door. | |
| 5. v. (figuratively, of a group) To break, or cause to break, into factions. | |
| The government splintered when the coalition members could not agree. | |
| The unpopular new policies splintered the company. | |
| 6. v. To fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a broken limb. | |
