Splitting (verb)

1. To divide or separate into two or more parts.
2. To separate into smaller parts or pieces, especially by breaking along a natural line of division.
3. To divide or separate into distinct or opposite parts or groups.

Origin:

From middle english splitten, from old english splītan, meaning "to split, divide, break into parts.".

Examples:

1. The workers were splitting logs into smaller pieces to be used as firewood.
2. The atom was split into smaller particles during the experiment.
3. The cell was splitting into two identical daughter cells.
4. The party was splitting into two factions over differences in policy.
5. The couple was splitting up after many years of marriage.