div
Divergence; a kind of differential operator.
Noun computing, engineering
- A function, implemented in many programming languages, that returns the result of a division of two integers.
- A section of a web page, or the div element that represents it in HTML code.
- A division; a lesson.
- division; a subject with multidisciplinary scope.
- A division.
Origin
Clipping of division.
Forms
Derived
Noun Entry 2
- Divergence; a kind of differential operator.
Origin
Clipping of divergence.
Noun Ireland, UK
- Divinity, as a school subject.
Origin
Clipping of divinity.
Synonyms
Noun alt of, alternative
- Alternative form of daeva.
Origin
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dyew- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *deywós Proto-Indo-Iranian *daywás Proto-Iranian *daywáh Old Persian 𐎭𐎡𐎺 (d-i-v /daivaʰ/) Middle Persian 𐫅𐫏𐫇 (dyw /dēw/) Iranian Persian دیوْ (div)bor. English div Borrowed from Iranian Persian دیوْ (div). Doublet of daeva and deva, and (via PIE) related to Tiw, Zeus, and deus. Compare the root *div- in divine and diva as well as *dei- in deity, deism etc.
Forms
Noun Ireland, UK
- A foolish person; an idiot.
- Too many commentators are quick to accuse their enemies of being evil. It's far, far more effective to point out that they're acting like divs instead. - 2012, Caitlin Moran, Moranthology, Ebury Press, published 2012,...
- To put it bluntly – without wanting to attract the ire of mental-health charities – he was a div who went schizo. - 2016, Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons & Rob Gibbons, Alan Partridge: Nomad, page 145:
- Zoe reads a lot and isn't a div like girls as pretty as her can be. - 2017, Shappi Khorsandi, Nina Is Not OK, page 2:
Origin
UK, 1980s. Clipping of divvy (“a foolish person”).
Forms
Verb
- Abbreviation of divide.