1343
split personality
spitting 'image n [the+of] an exact likeness: It's incredible;
she's the spitting image of her mother!
Spitting Image a humorous British television programme of
the 1980s and early 1990s in which rubber PUPPETS repre-
senting well-known people, especially politicians, performed
in SKETCHES (=short humorous scenes) about recent events
in the news
spit·tle /'spitl/ n [U] SPIT
spit·toon /spɪ'tu:n/ || also cuspidor AmE — n a container set
on the floor in a public room, especially formerly, for spitting
(SPIT) into. In Britain and North America spittoons are rarely
found now as it is considered rude to spit.
Spitz, Mark /spɪts/ (1950–) a US swimmer who won seven
GOLD MEDALS at the OLYMPIC GAMES in Munich in 1972
spiv /spɪv/ n BrE infml derog a man who lives by cheating
society, making money in small rather dishonest ways
splash¹ /splæʃ/ v 1 [+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/prep] a) (of a liquid)
to fall, hit, or move noisily, in drops, waves, etc: The rain
splashed on/against the window. b) to cause (a liquid) to do
this: She splashed cologne all over her body. | I'm afraid I've
splashed a bit of coffee on the carpet. 2 [T(with)] to throw or
scatter a liquid against (something): He splashed his face with
cold water to try to wake himself up. 3 [] to move noisily in
a liquid, making it fly about: The children were splashing
about in the bath. | to walk along, splashing through the
puddles 4 [T] infml to give a lot of space to (a news story);
report as if very important: The paper splashed the story on
page one. | Her name was splashed across the front
page. 5 [I;T(OUT, on)] infml, especially BrE to spend (a lot of money)
on nice but unnecessary things: I splashed out (£300) on a
new television. | She doesn't mind splashing her money about.
splash down phr v [] (especially of a spacecraft) to land in
the sea -> see also SPLASHDOWN
splash² n 1 a splashing act, movement, or noise: They dived
into the water with a splash. 2 a mark made by splashing:
There's a splash of paint on the floor. | These flowers bring a
splash of colour into the room. 3 infml a forceful, favourable,
and noticeable effect: His first novel made (quite) a splash. |
a splash of publicity 4 especially BrE a small added amount of
liquid, especially to a drink: Just a splash of soda, please.
splash³ adv [+prep] infml with a splash: It fell splash into the
lake.
splash·down /'splæʃdaun/ n [C;U] (a) landing by a space-
craft in the sea: Apollo 16 has made a successful splashdown
in the Pacific. -> see also SPLASH DOWN
splash guard n AmE for MUDFLAP
splash·y /'splæʃi/ adj especially AmE big, bright, and very notice-
able; FLASHY
splat¹ /splæt/ n [S] infml a noise like something wet hitting a
surface and being flattened
splat² v -tt- [I;T(against)] infml to (cause to) make a splat: The
tomatoes splatted against the windscreen.
splat·ter /'splætə/ v [I;T] to SPLASH with small drops of
liquid; SPATTER
splatter ,movie n AmE a film in which there are many
frightening murders or accidents which are very bloody
splay /spleɪ/ v [I;T(OUT)] to spread out, especially in an unnatu-
ral and awkward way: The table suddenly collapsed, its four
legs splaying out. | She splayed out her fingers.
spleen /spli:n/ n 1 [C] a small organ near the upper end of
the stomach that controls the quality of the blood supply
and produces certain blood cells 2 [U] lit or fml violent anger,
especially expressed suddenly: When I get so frustrated and
angry, I have to vent my spleen on (=let my anger out
towards) someone.
splen·did /'splendɪd/ adj 1 grand in appearance or style;
causing admiration; IMPRESSIVE: The walls were hung with
splendid silks and tapestries. | Their wedding was a splendid
affair. 2 very fine; excellent: We had a splendid holiday.
—ly adv: Joe and my father are getting along splendidly.
splen·dif·er·ous /splen'dɪfərəs/ adj BrE infml humor splendid
plen·dour BrE || -dor AmE /'splendə/ || also splendours pl.
— n [U] excellent or grand beauty: We admired the splendour
of the mountain scenery. | the faded splendours of the old
Majestic Hotel
sple·net·ic /splɪ'netk/ adj lit bad-tempered; habitually
angry or unpleasant
splice¹ /splais/ v [T] 1 [(to, onto, TOGETHER)] to join (two things)
together end to end to make one continuous length, e.g. by
weaving (ropes), sticking (pieces of film) etc: The tape in this
cassette is broken; can you splice the ends together? 2 [usually
pass.] BrE infml to join in marriage: It's twelve years now since
we got spliced.
splice² n an act or place of joining end to end
splic·er /'splaisə/ n an apparatus for joining pieces of film or
recording TAPE together neatly
spliff /splɪf/ n BrE infml a cigarette containing CANNABIS ->
compare JOINT
splint /splɪnt/ n a flat piece of wood, metal etc, used for
keeping a broken bone in position while it mends
splin·ter¹ /'splɪntə/ n [(of)] a small, sharp-pointed piece,
especially of wood, broken off something: I got a splinter in
my finger while I was sawing the wood. | Some splinters of
glass had got into his eye.
splinter² v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) break into small sharp-
pointed pieces -> compare SHATTER 2 [(OFF)] to separate
from a larger organization or become divided into separate
parts or groups
'splinter ,group n a group of people that has separated from
a larger body: After the leader's controversial speech, several
splinter groups left the movement in protest.
split¹ /splɪt/ v split, present participle splitting 1 [I;T] to (cause
to) divide along a length, especially with force or by a blow
or tear: This soft wood splits easily. | His coat had split down
the back. | I was out in the back yard splitting logs. 2 [I;T(UP,
into)] to divide into separate parts: Rutherford discovered how
to split the atom by fission. | The river splits into three smaller
streams at this point. | I think the article would be easier to
read if you split it up (into sections). 3 [T(between)] to divide
among people; share: Let's split the cost three ways/between
the three of us. 4 [I;T(UP, into)] to separate into opposing
groups or parties: Now, children, you must split up into two
groups for this game. | This quarrel threatens to split the
Republicans (into two opposing groups). | The government is
deeply split on this issue. | The committee was split right
down the middle on this proposal. (=into two opposing
groups of exactly equal size) 5 [(UP, with)] to end a friend-
ship, marriage, etc: He's split with his girlfriend. | Have you
heard that John and Anne have split up? 6 [(on)] BrE infml
(especially among children) to tell secret information about
someone: If I tell you where I'm going, promise you won't split
on me? 7 [] old-fash slang to leave quickly: I'm getting tired of
this place; let's split! 8 split hairs to concern oneself with
small unimportant differences, especially in arguments: 'It's
not 1000 jobs lost; it's only 967.' 'It's still far too many – stop
splitting hairs!' -> see also HAIR-SPLITTING 9 split one's
sides infml to become weak with uncontrollable laughter ->
see also SIDESPLITTING 10 split the difference infml to agree
on an amount halfway between: You say £12 and I say £10, so
let's split the difference and call it £11. -> see also SPLITTING
split² n 1 [(in)] a cut or break made by splitting: Can this split
in the tabletop be mended? 2 [(in)] a division or separation,
especially within a usually undivided group: Arguments over
policy led to a split in the party. 3 a division and sharing out:
a three-way split (=between three people) 4 a dish made
from fruit, especially a banana, cut into two pieces with ice
cream on top -> see also SPLITS
split 'end n [usually pl.] the end of a human hair that has split
into several parts, especially because the hair has not been
treated gently enough
,split in'finitive n a phrase in which an adverb or other word
is put between 'to' and an INFINITIVE as in 'to easily win'. It is
better to avoid split infinitives because many people regard
them as bad English. -> see also to boldly go where no man
has gone before (BOLDLY)
,split-'level adj (of a building or room) having floors at
different heights in different parts: a split-level flat/dining
room
,split 'pea n a dried PEA separated into its two natural halves
,split person'ality n not tech a condition in which a person
has two very different ways of behaving -> compare SCHIZO-
PHRENIA