/ˈsplɪntər/
splin·ter
BrE /ˈsplɪntə(r)/
NAmE /ˈsplɪntər/
a small, thin sharp piece of wood, metal, glass, etc. that has broken off a larger piece
SYN shard
splin·ter
BrE /ˈsplɪntə(r)/
NAmE /ˈsplɪntər/
[I, T] (of wood, glass, stone, etc.)
to break, or to make sth break, into small, thin sharp pieces
SYN shatter
The mirror cracked but did not splinter.
~ sth
The impact splintered the wood.
[I] (of a group of people)
to divide into smaller groups that are no longer connected; to separate from a larger group
The party began to splinter.
~ (off) (from sth)
Several firms have splintered off from the original company.