subdivision
(sʌbdɪˈvɪʒən, ˈsʌb-)
[ad. late L. subdīvīsio, -ōnem, n. of action f. subdīvīs-, subdīvidĕre to subdivide. Cf. F., Sp. subdivision, It. suddivisione.]
1. a. The act or process of subdividing, or fact of being subdivided.
| 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. ii. iii, To come to your..courtiers face, tis of three sorts, according to our subdiuision of a courtier, elementarie, practique, and theorique. 1622 Malynes Anc. Law-Merch. 360 The Denomination, Division and Subdivision of the moneys of all Countreys is most necessarie for Merchants. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxiv. 128 There were twelve Tribes, making them thirteen by subdivision of the Tribe of Joseph. 1776 Adam Smith W.N. i. i. (1869) I. 12 This subdivision of employment in philosophy, as well as in every other business, improves dexterity, and saves time. 1845 Encycl. Metrop. IV. 802 The aliquot subdivision of a vibrating string. 1855 Bain Senses & Int. i. ii. §15 (1864) 43 The Cerebral Nerves are divided into nine pairs, some of these being considered as admitting of farther subdivision. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xx. IV. 490 The increase of wealth had produced its natural effect, the subdivision of labour. 1889 Welch Naval Archit. 113 Watertight Subdivision of Ships. |
b. An instance of this.
| a 1577 Sir T. Smith Commw. Eng. i. iii. (1584) 3 Of these maner of rulinges by one, by the fewer part [etc.]..they which haue more methodically..written vpon them, doe make a subdiuision. 1634 R. H. Salerne's Regim. Pref., The third Ranke..admits a Subdivision into Better and Worse, Wise and Foolish, Learned and Ignorant. 1776 Adam Smith W.N. i. xi. (1869) I. 175 The nature of their business admits of the utmost subdivisions of labour. 1861 Brougham Brit. Const. xix. 313 Too minute a subdivision of business tends to contract the minds of those who perform it. |
2. a. One of the parts into which a whole is subdivided; part of a part; a section resulting from a further division; Nat. Hist., a subordinate division of a group.
| 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 113 Of these three partes of Philosophie, I might make other three subdiuisions, and largely set them out. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. i. §52 Methinks amongst those many subdivisions of hell, there might have bin one Limbo left for these. 1646 ― Pseud. Ep. 54 Chrystall..is..reduced by some unto that subdivision which comprehendeth gemmes. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ i. ii. §6 The Gnosticks and the severall subdivisions of them. 1777 S. Robson Brit. Flora 14 The petiole..subdivided, having two leafits on each subdivision. Ibid. 37 Orders are the subdivisions of Classes. 1825 Syd. Smith Wks. (1859) II. 197/2 A small subdivision of the clergy of the North Riding of Yorkshire. 1842 Gwilt Archit. §2848. 778 The subdivisions, apartments, or portions whereof a building consists. 1850 Ansted Elem. Geol., Min., etc. 371 The deposits of the Secondary epoch..may..be divided into four principal groups, each of which again presents well marked subdivisions. 1874 Stubbs Const. Hist. I. ii. 16 Their armies were arranged according to the contingents which represented the tribal sub-divisions. |
b. Milit. The half of a division (in first quot. the rear half). Also at various times, the half of a company; in the artillery, a gun with its waggons (now called subsection).
| 1625 Markham Souldiers Accid. 28 Whensoever this Bodie..(which containeth but ten persons in fyle) shall be devided in the midst betweene the Middlemen, then the last fiue Rankes to the Reareward are called by the name of Subdevision. 1702 Milit. Dict. (1704) s.v., Subdivisions, are the lesser parcels, into which a Regiment is divided in marching, being half the greater divisions. 1727 H. Bland Milit. Discipl. v. 60 When a Battalion is divided into three equal Parts or Divisions, each Division is then called a Grand-Division. Sub-Divisions are formed by dividing each Grand-Division into three, four or five equal Parts. 1796 Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813) 223 Subdivisions, Right Wheel! 1802 C. James Milit. Dict. s.v., A company divided forms two subdivisions. 1858 Beveridge Hist. India III. ix. iv. 635 The British force began to advance along the trunk road in a column of sub-divisions. 1876 Voyle & Stevenson Milit. Dict., Sub-division, in artillery, a gun with its wagon. 1889 Standing Orders Royal Regim. Artill. 41 Four-gun Batteries will be divided into two Sections—Right and Left—of 2 Sub-Divisions each. 1913 Times 14 May 6/2 A bearer sub-division R.A.M.C. |
c. N. Amer. An area of land subdivided into plots for the erection of houses; a housing estate.
| 1911 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 29 Apr. 13/2 Willows Beach Subdivision... The subdivision adjoins the well known Uplands Subdivision. 1926 G. Frankau My Unsentimental Journey xv. 209 The straight road through your new ‘sub-divisions’ (Anglicé—building lots). 1947 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. vii. 22 ‘Village’ has always been the common term for a small settlement, but does not appear in the name itself unless this is a subdivision name: Sunset Village, Pilgrim Village. 1960 V. Packard Waste Makers (1961) xxiv. 299 The ‘country’ place in the suburbs loses its ‘semirural’ character as soon as a subdivision goes up beyond it..(even though a sub⁓division house..in the suburbs may be preferable to an old row house in the city). 1979 Tucson (Arizona) Citizen 20 Sept. 1a/1, 1,700 displaced residents..left flooded parts of 25 subdivisions in Harris and Galveston counties. |