6 VERB If a magazine or newspaper splashes a story, it prints it in such a way that it is very noticeable. □ [V n] The newspapers splashed the story all over their front pages.
7 PHRASE If you make a splash , you become noticed or become popular because of something that you have done. □ Now she's made a splash in a top American television show.
▸ splash out PHRASAL VERB [no passive] If you splash out on something, especially on a luxury, you buy it even though it costs a lot of money. [BRIT ] □ [V P ] He wanted to splash out on a new car.
splash|down /splæ ʃdaʊn/ (splashdowns ) N‑COUNT A splashdown is the landing of a spacecraft in the sea after a flight.
splat /splæ t/ N‑SING ; N‑COUNT Splat is used to describe the sound of something wet hitting a surface with a lot of force. □ The egg landed on my cheek with a splat.
splat|ter /splæ tə r / (splatters , splattering , splattered ) VERB If a thick wet substance splatters on something or is splattered on it, it drops or is thrown over it. □ [V adv/prep] The rain splattered against the french windows. □ [V n] 'Sorry Edward,' I said, splattering the cloth with jam. □ [V -ed] …a mud-splattered white shirt.
splay /sple I / (splays , splaying , splayed ) VERB If things splay or are splayed , their ends are spread out away from each other. □ [V n] He splayed his fingers across his face. □ [V adv/prep] His fingers splay out in a star shape. □ [V -ed] He was on his stomach, his legs splayed apart.
spleen /spliː n/ (spleens )
1 N‑COUNT Your spleen is an organ near your stomach that controls the quality of your blood.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu poss N ] Spleen is great and bitter anger. [FORMAL ] □ His latest book vents his spleen against everything he hates about his country.
splen|did /sple nd I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that something is splendid , you mean that it is very good. □ Our house has got a splendid view across to the Cotswolds. ● splen|did|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ I have heard him tell people that we get along splendidly.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a building or work of art as splendid , you mean that it is beautiful, impressive, and extremely well made. □ …a splendid Victorian mansion. ● splen|did|ly ADV [ADV adj, ADV with v] □ The young women are splendidly dressed, some in floor-length ball gowns.
splen|dour /sple ndə r / (splendours ) in AM, use splendor 1 N‑UNCOUNT The splendour of something is its beautiful and impressive appearance. □ The foreign ministers are meeting in the splendour of the Royal Palace.
2 N‑PLURAL The splendours of a place or way of life are its beautiful and impressive features. □ [+ of ] Montagu was extremely impressed by the splendours of the French court.
sple|net|ic /spl I ne t I k/ ADJ If you describe someone as splenetic , you mean that they easily become very angry about things. [FORMAL ] □ …retired military men with splenetic opinions.
splice /spla I s/ (splices , splicing , spliced ) VERB If you splice two pieces of rope, film, or tape together, you join them neatly at the ends so that they make one continuous piece. □ [V n] He taught me to edit and splice film.
spliff /spl I f/ (spliffs ) N‑COUNT A spliff is a cigarette which contains cannabis or marijuana. [INFORMAL ]
splint /spl I nt/ (splints ) N‑COUNT A splint is a long piece of wood or metal that is fastened to a broken arm, leg, or back to keep it still.
splin|ter /spl I ntə r / (splinters , splintering , splintered )
1 N‑COUNT A splinter is a very thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or other hard substance, which has broken off from a larger piece. □ [+ of ] …splinters of glass. □ …a splinter in the finger.
2 VERB If something splinters or is splintered , it breaks into thin, sharp pieces. □ [V prep/adv] The ruler cracked and splintered into pieces. □ [V n] The stone rocketed into the glass, splintering it.
spli n|ter group (splinter groups ) N‑COUNT A splinter group is a group of people who break away from a larger group and form a separate organization, usually because they no longer agree with the views of the larger group.
split ◆◆◇ /spl I t/ (splits , splitting ) The form split is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle of the verb. 1 VERB If something splits or if you split it, it is divided into two or more parts. □ [V + in/into ] In a severe gale the ship split in two. □ [V n + in/into ] If the chicken is fairly small, you may simply split it in half. □ [V n] …uniting families split by the war.
2 VERB If an organization splits or is split , one group of members disagrees strongly with the other members, and may form a group of their own. □ [V ] Yet it is feared the Republican leadership could split over the agreement. □ [V n] A leadership contest now would split the party. ● ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Split is also an adjective. □ The Kremlin is deeply split in its approach to foreign policy.
3 N‑COUNT A split in an organization is a disagreement between its members. □ They accused both radicals and conservatives of trying to provoke a split in the party.