splinter
gb/splˈɪntɚ/ us/splˈɪntɚ/
B2
English
szálka, szilánkosra tör, szilánkosodik, szakadár csoport, szétszakad
NOUN
B2
1
szálka
A2
Usage pattern:
a splinter (in [body_part]); a splinter of [material]
I got a splinter in my thumb from the old fence.
A régi kerítésből szálka ment a hüvelykujjamba.
She used tweezers to pull the splinter out.
Csipesszel húzta ki a szálkát.
Wear gloves when sanding to avoid splinters.
Learner examples
I have a splinter in my finger.
Van egy szálka az ujjamban.
He pulled out the splinter.
Kihúzta a szálkát.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse splinter (a small sharp piece) with splint (a support for an injured limb).
Meaning
a small sharp broken piece
Collocations
get a splinter
|a splinter in my finger
|remove a splinter
|pull out a splinter
|wood splinter
|tiny splinter
|painful splinter
|splinter under the skin
|splinter of glass
|avoid splinters
Synonyms
sliver (Often a thin, narrow piece; common for wood.)
|
shard (More common for broken glass or ceramic than for wood.)
Antonyms
whole (Not broken into small pieces.)
Themes
daily_life
|health
|materials
Definition
A very small sharp piece of wood (or similar material), often in your skin.
A small, thin, sharp piece that has broken off from wood or another hard material, often one that gets stuck in the skin.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[something] splinters; [someone] splinters [something]
The dry branch splintered when he stepped on it.
A száraz ág szilánkosra tört, amikor rálépett.
The crash splintered the wooden railing.
Az ütközés szilánkosra törte a fa korlátot.
The baseball bat splintered into pieces.
Learner examples
The wood splintered.
A fa szilánkosra tört.
The impact splintered the door.
Az ütés szilánkosra törte az ajtót.
Common mistake:
Splinter often suggests long, sharp fragments (especially of wood), while shatter suggests many small pieces (often glass).
Meaning
break into sharp pieces
Collocations
splinter the wood
|splintered door
|splintered frame
|splintered board
|splintered bat
|splinter into pieces
|splinter on impact
|splinter badly
|cause it to splinter
|splintered fragments
Synonyms
split (More general; may not imply many small sharp pieces.)
|
shatter (Implies breaking into many pieces, often for glass; less about long sharp fragments.)
|
fragment (More general and less vivid; doesn’t imply sharpness.)
Antonyms
repair (To fix something so it is no longer broken.)
Themes
daily_life
|materials
Definition
To break into many small sharp pieces.
To break or cause something to break into small, sharp pieces, especially along the grain of wood.
NOUN
B2
3
Usage pattern:
a splinter group/faction/party (from [organization])
A splinter group broke away from the party after the vote.
A szavazás után egy szakadár csoport kivált a pártból.
The splinter accused the leadership of abandoning its principles.
A szakadár csoport azzal vádolta a vezetést, hogy feladta az elveit.
The union faced pressure from a splinter calling for immediate action.
Learner examples
A splinter group left the party.
Egy szakadár csoport kivált a pártból.
The splinter disagreed with the leaders.
A szakadár csoport nem értett egyet a vezetőkkel.
Common mistake:
This meaning is usually used with another noun (especially group, faction, or party).
Meaning
a breakaway group or faction
Collocations
splinter group
|splinter faction
|splinter party
|splinter movement
|splinter organization
|radical splinter
|form a splinter group
|a splinter from the party
|violent splinter group
|breakaway splinter group
Synonyms
breakaway (Emphasizes leaving a larger group; often used as an adjective or noun.)
|
faction (A subgroup within a larger group; may or may not have fully left.)
Antonyms
mainstream (The larger, established group rather than a breakaway.)
Themes
politics
|society
|business
Definition
A small group that leaves a bigger group because they disagree.
A smaller group that breaks away from a larger organization or movement, usually because of disagreement.
VERB
B2
4
szétszakad
B2
Usage pattern:
[group/organization] splinters; splinter into [groups]
The committee splintered over how to spend the budget.
A bizottság szétszakadt azon a kérdésen, hogyan költsék el a költségvetést.
After the leader resigned, the movement splintered into rival factions.
Miután a vezető lemondott, a mozgalom rivális frakciókra szakadt.
The online community splintered when new rules were introduced.
Learner examples
The group splintered into two teams.
A csoport két táborra szakadt.
The party splintered after the vote.
A párt a szavazás után szétszakadt.
Common mistake:
Use splinter when the split is into several smaller groups; use split for a simple division into two parts.
Meaning
split into smaller groups
Collocations
splinter into factions
|splinter into rival groups
|splinter badly
|splinter along ideological lines
|splinter over policy
|splinter after the election
|movement splintered
|party splintered
|coalition splintered
|splintered leadership
Synonyms
fragment (Suggests breaking into many parts; slightly more formal.)
|
split (More general; doesn’t always suggest many smaller groups.)
|
fracture (More formal; emphasizes serious division.)
Antonyms
unite (To come together rather than divide.)
|
merge (To combine groups into one.)
Themes
politics
|society
|relationships
Definition
To break into smaller groups because of disagreement.
To divide into smaller groups, especially because people disagree or follow different leaders or ideas.
Grammar
Dictionary form
splinter
IPA
GB/splˈɪntɚ/
US/splˈɪntɚ/
Syllables & stress
splinter (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (splinter)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: splinter
- Plural: splinters
Verb
- Base: splinter
- 3rd Person Singular: splinters
- Present Participle: splintering
- Past: splintered
Expressions
splinter cell
1/splˈɪntɚ sˈɛl/
fixed phrase
small breakaway extremist group
A small group that separates from a larger group, often for violent or illegal actions.
Examples
- Authorities said the attack was planned by a splinter cell of the organization.
- The group fractured into splinter cells after the arrests.
- Investigators tracked funding to a splinter cell operating abroad.
splinter into
1/splˈɪntɚ ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
divide into smaller parts
To break into many smaller pieces or groups.
Examples
- The table leg splintered into pieces when it hit the floor.
- The organization splintered into several competing factions.
- The discussion splintered into side conversations.
Learner examples
- The wood splintered into pieces.
splinter off
1/splˈɪntɚ ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
break away from a group
To leave a bigger group and make a new smaller group.
Examples
- Several members splintered off from the party and started a new movement.
- A local chapter splintered off after a dispute about funding.
- Two teams splintered off to work on separate projects.
Learner examples
- Some members splintered off from the group.
splinter party
1/splˈɪntɚ pˈɑɹti/
fixed phrase
new party formed after split
A new political party created by people leaving a bigger party.
Examples
- The splinter party won only a small share of the vote.
- Several lawmakers joined a splinter party after the leadership contest.
- The splinter party campaigned on stricter environmental rules.