splinter

A splinter is a small fragment that breaks off from a larger piece of material. The term is most often applied to wood, but splinters can also come from metal, glass, plastic, bone, or stone. Splinters are typically hard to remove if they are lodged beneath the skin, and they can cause irritation, infection, or injury if not treated.

Causes include mechanical stress, impact, or improper handling that creates cracks and fissures. Depending on the source material, splinters may be sharp and slender, increasing the risk of deeper penetration. Wood splinters tend to be fibrous and may carry organic material; metal and glass splinters are usually harder and more likely to cause puncture wounds.

In medical contexts, removing a splinter involves cleaning the area and extracting the fragment with sterilized tools. For surface splinters, tweezers may suffice. Deeper or embedded splinters near joints, under the nail, or in the eye require medical attention. Signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or pus, justify evaluation by a clinician. If tetanus vaccination status is uncertain or outdated, a booster may be recommended after a wound with a splinter.

In politics and sociology, a splinter (or splinter group) describes a faction that breaks away from a larger organization to pursue different goals or doctrine. Such groups may remain small but influence debates or cause organizational realignment.

As a verb, splinter means to break into splinters or to cause something to do so. The noun and verb share a common sense of fragmentation.