1. (n.) A cleaving, splitting, or breaking up into parts.

2. (n.) A method of asexual reproduction among the lowest (unicellular) organisms by means of a process of self-division, consisting of gradual division or cleavage of the into two parts, each of which then becomes a separate and independent organisms; as when a cell in an animal or plant, or its germ, undergoes a spontaneous division, and the parts again subdivide. See Division.

3. (n.) A process by which certain coral polyps, echinoderms, annelids, etc., spontaneously subdivide, each individual thus forming two or more new ones. See Strobilation.

ablate abscission accelerate activate alpha decay amputation atom-chipping atom-smashing atomic disintegration atomic reaction atomization atomize beta decay bifurcate bisect bombard bombardment branch break into pieces break to pieces break up breeding bullet butchering by two catalysis catalyst chain reaction chopping cleavage cleave come apart consume corrode crack up crash cross-bombard crumble crumble into dust crunch crush cut in two cut to pieces cutting decay decompose demolish dialysis dichotomize dichotomy diffuse dimidiate disintegrate disintegration series disjoin disorganize disperse disrupt dissociation dissolve divide enucleation erode exchange reaction excision fall to pieces fission reaction fork fragment gamma decay grind halve hydrolysis hydrolyst in half ionization laceration make mincemeat of mince molder mutilation neutron reaction nonreversible reaction nuclear fission nucleization nucleize photodisintegration photolysis proton gun proton reaction pulverize ramify rending resection reversible reaction ripping scatter scission section severance shatter shiver slashing slicing smash smash the atom smash up splinter split split in two splitting splitting the atom squash squish stimulation subdivide surgery target tearing thermolysis thermonuclear reaction transect waste away wear away