1. A small thin sharp bit of wood, glass or metal
   "he got a splinter in his finger";
   - sliver

1. Withdraw or split from an organization, state, or alliance
   "Several members splintered from the main party";
   - secede, break away
    
2. Divide into slivers or splinters
   "The wood splintered under the force of the impact";
   - sliver
    
3. Break up into splinters or slivers
   "The wood splintered";
   - sliver

Derived forms: splintering, splintered, splinters

Type of: bit, break, break up, carve up, chip, dissever [rare], divide, flake, fleck, fragment, fragmentise [Brit], fragmentize, part, scrap, separate, split, split up

Encyclopedia: Splinter