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Noun: hairsplitting  'hehr,spli-ting
  1. Making too fine distinctions of little importance
    "they didn't take his hairsplitting seriously";
    - word-splitting
Adjective: hairsplitting  'hehr,spli-ting
  1. Developed in excessively fine detail
    "hairsplitting distinctions";
    - finespun

Derived forms: hairsplittings

See also: precise

Type of: differentiation, distinction

Encyclopedia: Hairsplitting