This is a tough one for me and i'm a native english speaker. These aren't dictionary definitions just subjective opinions separate. Two things that are not related or in physical contact," the couple are now separate" " the study of physics is separate to that of music" divide . More mathematical 3 divided by 4, or there was a divison amongst society amongst the poor and the rich. you would never say a couple divided. split . to cut something in half. to split a piece of paper, but also a relationship. " me and my wife split" spread. refers to spacing something out like peanut butter , or the doors of a gate. hope that helps.

"separate”, “divide”, and “split” are near synonyms, though "separate" often implies something that can be temporary. Eg: "the pirates divided / split the treasure" implies that each gets to keep his share forever. "The mother separated her fighting children" implies that they will be kept apart only until they are no longer angry, not forever. "My girlfriend and I have separated" often implies that they might get back together; "my girlfriend and I split up" implies that it is permanent. Spread is completely different. Unlike the others, it can never imply that one thing is now two things, only that the ends of the one thing are futher apart. When an army spreads out, it is still one army, but each soldier is farther from eeah other soldier. When you put a lump of butter in bread and spread it, the same amount of butter covers more of the bread. When I spread my arms, i am holding them further away from each other.

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This is a tough one for me and i'm a native english speaker. These aren't dictionary definitions just subjective opinions separate. Two things that are not related or in physical contact," the couple are now separate" " the study of physics is separate to that of music" divide . More mathematical 3 divided by 4, or there was a divison amongst society amongst the poor and the rich. you would never say a couple divided. split . to cut something in half. to split a piece of paper, but also a relationship. " me and my wife split" spread. refers to spacing something out like peanut butter , or the doors of a gate. hope that helps.