a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal; he got a splinter in his finger; it broke into slivers

[ Syn: sliver ]

withdraw from an organization or communion; After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away

[ Syn: secede , break away ]

divide into slivers or splinters

[ Syn: sliver ]

break up into splinters or slivers; The wood splintered

[ Syn: sliver ]