Balkanize
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical.
Related to Balkanize: Balkanise
Bal·kan·ize
or bal·kan·ize (bôl′kə-nīz′)tr.v. Bal·kan·ized, Bal·kan·iz·ing, Bal·kan·iz·es or bal·kan·ized or bal·kan·iz·ing or bal·kan·iz·es
1. To divide (a region or territory) into small, often hostile units.
2. To divide (an organization or system) into small, incompatible units: changes that would Balkanize the corporation.
[From the political division of the Balkan countries in the early 20th century.]
Bal′kan·i·za′tion n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Balkanize
(ˈbɔːlkəˌnaɪz) orBalkanise
vb
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (tr) to divide (a territory) into small warring states
2. to divide (a group or organization) into small factions
ˌBalkaniˈzation, ˌBalkaniˈsation n
ˈBalkaˌnized, ˈBalkaˌnised adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
Bal•kan•ize
(ˈbɔl kəˌnaɪz)v.t. -ized, -iz•ing.
to divide (a country, territory, etc.) into small, often quarrelsome states.
[1915–20]
Bal`kan•i•za′tion, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Balkanize
Past participle: Balkanized
Gerund: Balkanizing
Imperative |
---|
Balkanize |
Balkanize |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Verb | 1. | Balkanize - divide a territory into small, hostile states |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005