1. (n.) To split or rend into long, thin pieces; to shiver; as, the lightning splinters a tree.

2. (n.) To fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a broken limb.

3. (v. i.) To become split into long pieces.

4. (n.) A thin piece split or rent off lengthwise, as from wood, bone, or other solid substance; a thin piece; a sliver; as, splinters of a ship's mast rent off by a shot.

atomize bit black sheep blemish breach break break into pieces break to pieces break up breakage breakaway group burst butt camp caucus chip chunk cleft clip clipping collop crack crash crumb crunch crush cut cut to pieces cutting demolish diffuse disintegrate disperse disrupt division dollop end ethnic group faction fission fissure foreign body foreign intruder fracture fragment gap gob gobbet grind gruel hunk impurity interest interest group intruder lath lump make mincemeat of mere shadow mince minority group misfit modicum moiety monkey wrench morceau morsel mote nip oddball offshoot paper paring particle party pash patch piece political party pressure group pulverize rail rake rasher rent rift rip rive rupture scale scatter scoop scrap sect shadow shard shatter shaving shiver shred side silent majority skeleton slash slat slice slip slit sliver smash smash up smatter smithereen snack snatch snick snip snippet soup speck splinter group split squash squish stitch stone streak stump tag tatter tear vein vocal minority wafer weed wing