The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Split \Split\ (spl[i^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Split
   (Splitted, R.); p. pr. & vb. n. Splitting.] [Probably of
   Scand. or Low German origin; cf. Dan. splitte, LG. splitten,
   OD. splitten, spletten, D. splijten, G. spleissen, MHG.
   spl[imac]zen. Cf. Splice, Splint, Splinter.]
   1. To divide lengthwise; to separate from end to end, esp. by
      force; to divide in the direction of the grain or layers;
      to rive; to cleave; as, to split a piece of timber or a
      board; to split a gem; to split a sheepskin.
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            Cold winter split the rocks in twain. --Dryden.
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   2. To burst; to rupture; to rend; to tear asunder.
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            A huge vessel of exceeding hard marble split asunder
            by congealed water.                   --Boyle.
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   3. To divide or break up into parts or divisions, as by
      discord; to separate into parts or parties, as a political
      party; to disunite. [Colloq.] --South.
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   4. (Chem.) To divide or separate into components; -- often
      used with up; as, to split up sugar into alcohol and
      carbonic acid.
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   To split hairs, to make distinctions of useless nicety.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

splitting
    adj 1: resembling a sound of violent tearing as of something
           ripped apart or lightning splitting a tree; "the tree
           split with a great ripping sound"; "heard a rending roar
           as the crowd surged forward" [syn: rending, ripping,
           splitting]