splinter (B1)

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsplɪntər/

Definition

A small, sharp piece of material, such as glass, wood, or metal, that breaks off from a larger object and can easily pierce skin.

Examples

• I got a splinter in my thumb from the rough wooden table.

• She carefully removed the tiny glass splinter from her foot.

• The surgeon had to extract a metal splinter from the worker's hand.

How to Use splinter

splinter group (collocation)

A small group that has broken away from a larger organization. — "The political party was weakened by the formation of a splinter group."

splinter off (phrasal verb)

To break away from a larger group or organization. — "Several members decided to splinter off and form their own committee."

Synonyms of splinter

Words with a similar meaning to splinter:

• shard
• fragment
• chip

Antonyms of splinter

Words with the opposite meaning to splinter:

• whole
• piece

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