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1. A small thin sharp bit of wood, 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

Derived forms: splinters, splintering, splintered

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

Encyclopedia: Splinter