dividing
dividing — verb
- dividingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- dividings3rd person singular
- dividinging-ing form
- dividingedpast simple
1. to break something up, or to come apart, into smaller sections, pieces, or group
to break something up, or to come apart, into smaller sections, pieces, or groups.
The chef divided the sandwich into four small pieces for lunch.
divide + object + into + number/parts
A low fence divides the vegetable garden from the play area.
The class divided into three teams for the science quiz.
During cell growth, one cell divides into two new cells.
文法句型
divide + noun + into + parts/groups
divide into + groups
用法筆記
Use this sense for physical splitting or for people and things separating into groups. The transitive pattern names what is being split, while the intransitive pattern often uses into to show the new parts.
常見錯誤
2. to split money, food, work, or another resource into portions so each person get
to split money, food, work, or another resource into portions so each person gets a part.
The sisters divided the last mango among the three children.
divide + food + among + group
After the concert, the band divided the ticket money equally.
We divided the cleaning jobs so everyone had one task.
The lawyer divided the inheritance among the four cousins.
- distribute
more formal, with focus on handing shares out
- apportion
formal, often used for money, blame, or responsibility
- share out
British phrasal verb for giving portions to people
文法句型
divide + noun + among/between + people
用法筆記
The object is something that can be shared out, such as money, food, land, or duties. Use among for three or more recipients and between for two clear sides or people.
常見錯誤
3. to act as the line or barrier that separates one place, area, or side from anoth
to act as the line or barrier that separates one place, area, or side from another.
A narrow canal divides the old town from the newer district.
divide + place + from + place
The white road line divides the two lanes at the bridge.
Tall hedges divide the playground from the staff parking area.
A glass wall divides the kitchen and the dining room.
- connect
to link two areas instead of keeping them apart
文法句型
divide + place + from + place
divide + two areas
用法筆記
The subject is usually a wall, road, river, fence, or line. Distinguish this sense from sense 1: here the thing named is the boundary itself, not the act of breaking something up.
常見錯誤
4. to use different parts of your time, money, effort, or attention for different j
to use different parts of your time, money, effort, or attention for different jobs or purposes.
Sana divides each week between the Taipei office and home visits.
divide + time + between + activities
The school divided its budget between new books and repair work.
I divide my study time among reading, writing, and speaking practice.
The charity divided its effort between emergency aid and long-term training.
- concentrate
to put most or all of something into one area
文法句型
divide + time/money/attention + between/among + purposes
用法筆記
This sense is about planning how resources are used, not giving them away. Common objects are time, money, attention, effort, and energy.
常見錯誤
5. in the British parliament, to vote by moving into separate groups for and agains
in the British parliament, to vote by moving into separate groups for and against a proposal.
MPs divided after midnight on the bill about rail safety.
British parliamentary use
The House divided, and ministers waited by the chamber doors.
Members divided on the amendment after a tense evening debate.
The chamber divided 310 to 287 on the final motion.
- vote by division
formal phrase naming the same procedure
- split for a vote
plain-English description of the process
文法句型
MPs/the House divide on + motion
用法筆記
Used mainly in British parliamentary reporting. The subject is usually MPs, the House, or another formal legislative body, and the issue being voted on often follows on.
6. to make people stop agreeing with each other and take opposite sides.
to make people stop agreeing with each other and take opposite sides.
The pay dispute divided the factory workers for several months.
divide + group of people
The new airport plan divided residents across the whole valley.
The principal's comments on uniforms divided parents at the meeting.
The court case divided the family into two bitter camps.
文法句型
divide + people/group
divide opinion
用法筆記
This sense is often used with issues, policies, or events as the subject and a community, party, or family as the object. It is common in news writing about politics and public opinion.
常見錯誤
7. to find how many times one number goes into another by using division.
to find how many times one number goes into another by using division.
The students divided eighty-four by seven without using any calculators.
divide + number + by + number
Haruto divided 36 by 4 on the board in class.
Our teacher showed us how to divide decimals step by step.
In maths class, we divided the total by the number of teams.
- do division
plain phrase for the same school-maths action
- work out
broader and less exact, used when the operation is clear from context
- calculate
broad formal verb that can include division among other operations
文法句型
divide + number + by + number
divide decimals
divide in your head
用法筆記
The number being split comes before by in the usual school-maths pattern. This sense can also be intransitive in general statements, as in 'I can multiply but I still cannot divide quickly.'
常見錯誤
8. if a smaller number goes evenly into a larger one, the division leaves no remain
if a smaller number goes evenly into a larger one, the division leaves no remainder.
The number three divides into twelve exactly four times.
number + divide into + number
Because 5 does not divide into 22 evenly, a remainder is left.
The teacher asked whether nine divides into eighty-one exactly in this example.
In this problem, 12 divides into 144 without any remainder.
- go into
common classroom phrasing for the same relation
- be a factor of
more formal mathematical wording
文法句型
number + divide into + number
divide evenly into + number
用法筆記
Here the smaller number is the subject and the larger number follows into. Distinguish this sense from sense 8: sense 8 is the act of calculating, while this sense describes the mathematical relationship between two numbers.
常見錯誤
dividing — noun
1. the act or process of splitting something into parts, groups, or sections.
the act or process of splitting something into parts, groups, or sections.
The dividing of the land took months of legal work.
the dividing of + noun
The dividing of chores made mornings much calmer in the house.
A fair dividing of the prize money avoided arguments later.
The dividing of the cake into equal slices pleased the children.
- division
the most common noun for the act or result of splitting
- separation
broader and often less focused on equal parts
- splitting
more informal and often more physical
- union
the joining of separate parts
文法句型
the dividing of + noun
用法筆記
This formal noun is usually followed by of plus the thing being split. In everyday English, many speakers more often choose division or simply use the verb divide instead.