Divide (noun) vs. Division

Question

Hi, what is the difference between using division and divide (noun)? Should the two nouns be used in different contexts?Thanks.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

what is the difference between using division and divide (noun)? Should the two nouns be used in different contexts? Please read the following dictionary defintios. Then ask about anything that remains unclear to you.

Clive

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/divide

di·vide

FlashVars="sound_src=http://img.tfd.com/hm/mp3/D0303700.mp3" menu="false"
width="13" height="21" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer%22>; (d

-v

d

)

n.

1. A dividing point or line: "would clearly tip the court . . . across a dangerous constitutional divide" (Lawrence H. Tribe).

2. A ridge of land; a watershed.

_______________________

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/division

di·vi·sion

FlashVars="sound_src=http://img.tfd.com/hm/mp3/D0305600.mp3" menu="false"
width="13" height="21" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
pluginspage="; (d

-v

zh

n)

n.

1.

a. The act or process of dividing.

b. The state of having been divided.

2. Mathematics The operation of determining how many times one quantity is contained in another; the inverse of multiplication.

3. The proportional distribution of a quantity or entity.

4. Something, such as a boundary or partition, that serves to divide or keep separate.

5. One of the parts, sections, or groups into which something is divided.

6.

a. An area of government or corporate activity organized as an administrative or functional unit.

b. A territorial section marked off for political or governmental purposes.

7.

a. An administrative and tactical military unit that is smaller than a corps but is self-contained and equipped for prolonged combat activity.

b. A group of several ships of similar type forming a tactical unit under a single command in the U.S. Navy.

c. A unit of the U.S. Air Force larger than a wing and smaller than an air force.

8. Botany The highest taxonomic category, consisting of one or more related classes, and corresponding approximately to a phylum in zoological classification. See Table at taxonomy.

9. A category created for purposes of competition, as in boxing.

10.

a. Variance of opinion; disagreement.

b. A splitting into factions; disunion.

11. The physical separation and regrouping of members of a parliament according to their stand on an issue put to vote.

12. Biology Cell division.

13. A type of propagation characteristic of plants that spread by means of newly formed parts such as bulbs, suckers, or rhizomes.

Avangi · Answer

Division is usally a process, and divide is a separation - a chasm.

A divide can be a geological/geographical feature - "the great divide"; the continental divide.
It can also be a separation between people and ideas.

In geological terms we'd be more inclined to call the Rocky Mountains a divide than we would The Grand Canyon. This is because they serve as a watershed, the water on one side flowing westward and on the other side flowing eastward.

Mr Wordy · Answer

In contexts where the two words have approximately the same meaning, "divide" to me emphasises the width of separation.

Eeelearner · Answer

Thanks for all the examples. That sounds sensible - so in contexts where both can be used, division emphasizes the process while divide emphasizes the width / chasm itself.

Anonymous · Answer

"Divide" has colloquially become equivalent to "division", despite the former being canonically the verb which creates the latter noun. Overcoming the tongue's considerable inertia to form words requires such great effort. "The Continental Divide" saves a whole syllable over the more technically correct "The Continental Division", so that's what's on the sign.

Similar to "disconnect", a

Similar to "disconnect", as in: "There is a disconnect between the people and their politicians"

Really? Did there use to be a connect?!

Divide (noun) vs. Division

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions