What is the meaning of splinters?

noun

• A small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal.
  • usage: "he got a splinter in his finger"; "it broke into slivers"
  • synonyms: splinter, sliver
• Wood in small pieces or splinters.
  • usage: "the vessel was beaten to matchwood on the rocks"
  • synonyms: matchwood

verb

• Withdraw from an organization or communion.
  • usage: "After the break up of the Soviet Union, many republics broke away"
  • synonyms: secede, splinter, break away
• Divide into slivers or splinters.
  • synonyms: sliver, splinter
• Break up into splinters or slivers.
  • usage: "The wood splintered"
  • synonyms: splinter, sliver