WordWeb Online

1. Wood in small pieces or splinters
   "the vessel was beaten to splinters on the rocks"
   - matchwood

1. A small thin sharp bit of wood or glass or metal
   "he got a splinter in his finger"
   - sliver

1. Withdraw from an organization or communion
   "After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics splintered"
   - secede, break away
    
2. Divide into slivers or splinters
   - sliver
    
3. Break up into splinters or slivers
   "The wood splintered"
   - sliver

See also: splintering, splintery

Type of: bit, break, break up, carve up, chip, dissever, divide, flake, fleck, fragment, fragmentise [Brit], fragmentize, part, scrap, separate, split, split up, wood

Encyclopedia: Splinter