splice

splice — verb

1. to fasten the tip of one piece of rope, wire, or film to the tip of another piec

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to fasten the tip of one piece of rope, wire, or film to the tip of another piece so the two become one longer length

Example

Rania spliced the two ropes together before lowering the bucket into the well.

splice + object + together for physical joining

The editor carefully spliced the film at the exact frame where the door opens.

Common collocations
  • splice together
  • splice onto
  • splice into
  • splice rope
  • splice film
  • splice cable
  • splice wire
Synonyms
  • join

    the most general term; less specific than splice

  • weave together

    emphasises the interlocking technique used for ropes

  • fuse

    suggests melting or bonding; used for metals, not ropes or film

Antonyms
  • separate

    to pull apart what was joined

  • cut

    to divide into two pieces

Grammar Patterns

splice + noun phrase + together

splice + noun phrase + onto/to + noun phrase

Usage Note

When joining ropes, splicing involves weaving strands together rather than tying a knot, which creates a stronger join.

Common Mistakes

I spliced the two ropes with a simple knot.
I spliced the two ropes by weaving the strands together.
Splicing is a specific technique of interweaving, not just any method of joining.

2. to take a piece of genetic material from one organism and insert it into the DNA

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to take a piece of genetic material from one organism and insert it into the DNA of another organism, creating a new genetic combination

Example

Tariro spliced a firefly gene into tomato DNA so the plants glow in the dark.

splice + gene + from [source] + into [target] for genetic engineering

The research team spliced a human insulin gene into bacteria to produce medicine.

Common collocations
  • splice a gene
  • splice DNA
  • splice RNA
  • splice into the genome
  • gene splicing
  • RNA splicing
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

splice + gene/segment + from + source + into + target

splice + gene/segment + into + genome

Usage Note

Frequently used in the passive voice and in compound noun phrases such as 'gene splicing' or 'RNA splicing'. The term appears in both formal research papers and news reporting on biotechnology.

Common Mistakes

The chef spliced the eggs into the batter.
The scientist spliced the fluorescent gene into the bacteria.
'Splice' in this sense is a technical biology term, not a general verb for mixing things together.

3. (informal, British) to marry someone — used almost always in the fixed phrase 'g

3.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

(informal, British) to marry someone — used almost always in the fixed phrase 'get spliced'

Example

Ezra and Elena are getting spliced next spring in a small village on the coast.

informal fixed phrase: get spliced meaning 'get married'

Nobody expected Sahil and Quan to get spliced after dating for only three months.

Common collocations
  • get spliced
Synonyms
  • get married

    neutral and far more common; splice is informal British slang

  • tie the knot

    another informal idiom for marrying, common in both American and British English

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

get spliced (fixed phrase)

Usage Note

Nearly always appears as 'get spliced' (passive-like structure). The simple transitive form ('they spliced each other') is extremely rare and not recommended for learners.

Common Mistakes

They will splice next weekend.
They will get spliced next weekend.
The verb 'get' is required in this informal marriage sense.
Idioms

get spliced

idiom

This informal phrase means to marry someone.

After dating for five years, Tom and Sara finally got spliced last June.

Did you hear that Maya and Diego got spliced in a small ceremony?

splice — noun