splinter in WordNet English dictionary

1. withdraw from an organization or communion
   "After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away"
   secede  splinter  break away 
   
2. break up into splinters or slivers
   "The wood splintered"
   splinter  sliver 
   
3. divide into slivers or splinters
   sliver  splinter 
   

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