splinter

• Petit morceau fin et pointu de bois, de verre ou de métal qui s'est détaché d'un objet plus grand.

A small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or metal that has broken off from a larger object.

1. Small sharp fragmentB1formal

   A small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, metal, or other material that has broken off from a larger object.

   Écharde

   • He got a splinter in his finger while building the fence.
   • She carefully removed the glass splinter from her foot.
   • The old wooden floor was full of tiny splinters.

   Synonymeschipfragmentshardshiversliverspall

2. Small group that breaks awayB2formal

   A small group of people that has broken away from a larger organization, typically due to disagreement.

   scission

   • A splinter group formed after the political party split.
   • The movement was divided into several splinter factions.
   • The splinter organization disagreed with the main leadership.

   Synonymescaucusfactionoffshootwing

   Antonymesmainstreammajorityparent

• Verbe désignant l'action de se briser ou de se fendre en petits éclats pointus, ou de se séparer d'un groupe plus large.

A verb used to indicate the act of breaking or splitting into small, sharp fragments, or to separate from a larger group.

1. Withdraw from a groupB2formal

   To break away or separate from a larger organization, political party, or religious group, often to form a new faction.

   se scinder

   • A small group of members decided to splinter from the main party.
   • The movement began to splinter into several competing factions.
   • After the disagreement, the committee threatened to splinter.

   Synonymesbreak awaydefectsecedewithdraw

   Antonymescoalescejoinmergeunifyunite

2. Divide into thin piecesB1formal

   To break or split into small, thin, sharp pieces, like wood or glass.

   Se fendre en éclats

   • The old wooden board splintered when he dropped it.
   • The glass splintered into a thousand tiny shards.
   • Be careful not to splinter the wood when cutting it.

   Synonymescrackfracturefragmentshiversplit

3. Break apart into fragmentsB1formal

   To cause something to break into small, sharp fragments or slivers.

   Fendre en éclats

   • The impact caused the bone to splinter in several places.
   • The rock splintered the window into pieces.
   • The hammer blow splintered the wooden crate.

   Synonymesbreakcrackfragmentshattersmashspallsplit

   Antonymesassemblebondcoalescecombineconsolidatefuseintegratejoinmergeunite