What is divide? Pronunciation and usage in English

divide means . Learn how to pronounce and use divide through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of divide

divideverb

/dɪˈvʌɪd/
Definition & pronunciation of divide

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "divide" in English. Here's a breakdown and a few helpful tips:

1. The Basic Pronunciation:

  • ˈdɪˌvaɪd (stress on the first syllable)

Let's break that down further:

  • ˈdɪ - This sounds like "die" – as in, "to die." The emphasis is on this first syllable.
  • ˌvaɪ - This is the tricky part for many learners. It sounds like "vy" – like the "v" in "very" combined with the "y" in "yes." It’s a diphthong (a gliding vowel sound).
  • d - Just a simple "d" sound.

2. Phonetic Transcription (for those who like it):

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /ˈdɪˌvaɪd/

3. Tips for Pronunciation:

  • Stress: Make sure you emphasize the first syllable ("di"). This is the most important part.
  • The "vy" sound: Practice saying "vy" quickly. It's not a hard "v" sound, but a quickly blended "v" and "y." Think of it as like the "v" in "very" followed immediately by the "y" in "yes".
  • Listen to examples: The best way to hear it is to listen to native speakers. Here are some resources:

4. Common Mistakes:

  • Saying "divide" as "div-ide" (without the second syllable emphasis).
  • Pronouncing the "vy" sound as a hard "v" and "i" (sounding like "vee-ide").

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Give you a practice sentence using the word "divide"?

Usage and examples with the word divide in English

Let's break down how to use the word "divide" in English. It's a remarkably versatile word with many different meanings and applications. Here's a categorized breakdown with examples:

1. To Split or Separate:

  • Literal Division: This is the most basic meaning – to physically split something into parts.
    • Example: "The baker divided the cake into twelve equal slices."
    • Example: "The archaeologist divided the artifacts by type and era."
  • Figurative Division: To separate things conceptually.
    • Example: "He divided his time between work and family."
    • Example: "The professor divided the chapter into sections for easier study."

2. To Cause a Split or Disagreement:

  • Emotional Division: To create conflict or disagreement among people.
    • Example: "Political differences divided the community."
    • Example: "The controversial policy divided the board members."
  • Social Division: To create separation based on social characteristics (race, class, religion, etc.).
    • Example: "Historical inequalities continue to divide society."
    • Example: "The war further divided the nation along ethnic lines.”

3. To Share or Allocate:

  • Distributing Resources: To split something up for sharing.
    • Example: “The company divided the profits equally among its employees.”
    • Example: “We divided the food equally between the five of us.”
  • Mathematical Division: To calculate a quotient.
    • Example: “I need to divide 10 by 2.” (Result: 5)

4. To Separate into Groups (often for a specific purpose):

  • Example: "The teacher divided the class into small groups for a project."
  • Example: "The referee divided the players into two teams.”

5. As a Verb (often used with "by"):

  • Dividing by a Number: This is a core mathematical operation.
    • Example: “I’m going to divide 10 by 2.” (This means "10 divided by 2.")
  • Dividing something into parts by a method or principle:
    • Example: “The new law divides students based on their test scores.”

6. As a Noun:

  • A Division: A branch or department within a larger organization.
    • Example: "The marketing team is a separate division of the company."
  • A Difference or Split: (Used less commonly, but possible)
    • Example: "There’s a real divide in opinion on the issue."

Key Considerations & Nuances:

  • "Divide" vs. "Split": "Divide" is often considered more formal than "split." While they can sometimes be used interchangeably, "split" often implies a more dramatic or sudden separation.
  • Context is crucial: The specific meaning of "divide" is almost always determined by the context in which it’s used.

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Can you give me an example sentence where you'd like to use the word "divide"? This will allow me to show you how it fits into a specific situation.
  • What is the context you're thinking about? (e.g., writing an essay, talking to a friend, doing a math problem)?

Synonyms for the word divide

Idioms of the word divide

divide and rule
to keep control over people by making them disagree with and fight each other, therefore not giving them the chance to join together and oppose you
  • a policy of divide and rule
split/divide (something) down the middle
to divide something into two equal parts; to divide into two equal parts
  • The country was split down the middle over the strike (= half supported it, half did not).
  • Divide the cake down the middle.
  • It would seem the community has divided down the middle, with some favouring expansion and some dead set against it.

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