Divide meaning in English

Learn how to use Divide correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition

a divide (between two generations): a split, a gap, a separation, an alienation (between two generations) noun

to divide (a cake) into (slices): to split, to cut, to separate (a cake) into (slices) verb

to divide (public opinion): to split, to separate, to break up, to part (public opinion) verb

Examples

"Bruno : I will now divide you into two teams. Each team will have a diabolically difficult task."
"New president of Europe Brian Alistair Jones, the winner in a hotly contested election that divided citizens over issues such as a national cheese, sits in his office with a reflective look on his face."
"Your contribution is currently divided into a portfolio of American mutual funds, stocks and bonds."
"I know opinion is divided on the subject, but I've always been a firm believer in not doing drugs before an interview."
"I'd like your opinion on the North versus South divide."
"let's take our money, and divide it into thirds!"

Exercise 1

Below are the lyrics to the first part of Icarus's rap! Fill in the blanks which are missing. Play the audio to help you!

Icarus: your hands in the air,
and wave 'em like you just don't care,
and if you like to invest liquid ,
let me hear you say "oh yeah"!

Yo! Listen to me Bruno, do not be absurd,
let's take our money, and it into !
The first third of cash should be risk-free,
let's stick it in (a) savings account without any !

I don't know

Below are the lyrics to the first part of Icarus's rap! Fill in the blanks which are missing. Play the audio to help you!

Icarus: Throw 1 your hands in the air,
and wave 'em like you just don't care,
and if you like to invest liquid assets 2,
let me hear you say "oh yeah"!

Yo! Listen to me Bruno, do not be absurd,
let's take our money, and divide 3 it into thirds 4!
The first third of cash should be risk-free,
let's stick it in (a) savings account without any fees 5!

1 Throw: "To throw" means to launch or propel with your hands, generally an object such as a ball. In this context, however, it means to raise your hands into the air, or "wave them" over your head.

2 assets: "Assets" describe items capable of generating income. These could be cash, property (real estate) or machines for example. A "liquid asset" can be converted into cash with minimum time. Metals such as gold and silver are examples of liquid assets.

3 divide: The verb "to divide" means to "split" or "separate" into smaller parts. It is also a mathematical function. Icarus plans on "dividing" or "separating" the money into three thirds and investing or placing a third in different ways.

4 thirds: "A third" or "one third" is 1/3; a fraction equivalent to .33333. Icarus plans to divide the 1.2 million dollars he has found into "thirds" (or increments of 400,000 dollars) and place or invest each third differently.

5 fees: A "fee" refers to the cost of a service. Example: Lawyers charge large fees for their services, and bankers charge fees for transactions. In this verse, Icarus encourages Bruno to put a third of the 1.2 million dollars into a savings account which does not charge any "fees" or "charges".

Exercise 2

"There is a strong bond which unites all of us in this room".

Here, Bruno is saying that there is a strong which everyone present.'

"There is a strong bond which unites all of us in this room".

Here, Bruno is saying that there is a strong link 1 which connects 2 everyone present.'

1 link: "Link" is the best choice here. "Link" shares a very similar meaning with "bond": they both "attach" or "fasten" or "tie" one thing to another. This can be either in a figurative sense, as in the speech, e.g. "Frank has links with the Mafia" or in a literal sense: "One link in the chain is missing".

1 spy: Yes, there is a spy called Bond. He's got nothing to do with this Gymglish lesson, unfortunately.

1 profession: This is incorrect. A "profession" is a career, and is unrelated to the term "bond".

1 difference: This is incorrect. A "difference" is a "distinction" or "dissimilarity". This is quite the opposite of Bruno's meaning.

1 challenge: A "bond" is unrelated to a challenge. In this context a "bond" refers to a link or connection.

2 connects: The verb "to connect" is very similar in meaning to the verb "to unite", and is the best choice here. Things are "united" or "connected" when they are linked together, either in a figurative sense, as in the speech, e.g. "The crowd was united by the common goal of breaking down the barriers", or literally: e.g. "The armies united to defeat the alien invasion". Another example can be found in the names of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, not to forget the United Nations!

2 divides: This is incorrect. When two things are "divided", they are separated. This is quite the opposite of Bruno's meaning.

2 motivates: This is incorrect. To "motivate" is unrelated to the term to "unite".

2 inspires: This is incorrect. To "inspire" is unrelated to the term to "unite".

Exercise 3