splinter

Everyday

1. A splinter is a small, sharp, thin piece of wood, glass or metal that has broken off, especially one that gets stuck in your skin. tree →
2. To splinter means to break into small sharp pieces. tree →

In the lessons

In first-aid lessons: a small splinter can be taken out by an adult with clean tweezers after washing the skin; deep splinters or glass need a doctor. In safety: wear shoes on old wooden decks and be careful with rough wood in design and technology lessons. Phrases: get a splinter, take out a splinter, splinter group.

Examples

• I got a splinter from the wooden fence. tree →
• Mum took the splinter out with tweezers. tree →
• Wash the skin after removing a splinter. tree →
• The old door splintered when it was hit. tree →
• Wear shoes on the wooden deck to avoid splinters. tree →
• Sand the wood smooth so there are no splinters. tree →
• A splinter of glass was in the carpet. tree →
• The splinter in my finger hurt a lot. tree →
• It did not hurt him at all, but the splinter was there all the same. tree →

Note

Countable. Not the same as a «splint», which is a stiff support tied to a broken bone. Do not squeeze a splinter deeper; ask an adult.

In Jewish tradition

In Amos it means broken pieces, a picture of buildings smashed by God's command.

Interpretation. Amos's warning is read as saying that rich, proud houses cannot stand against God's judgment, big or small.

Examples

• For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and the great house shall be smitten into splinters, and the little house into chips. (Prophets AMO.6.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. Not the same as a «splint», which is a stiff support tied to a broken bone. Do not squeeze a splinter deeper; ask an adult.