burst and split share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. burst means “come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure”. split means “extending the legs at right angles to the trunk (one in front and the other in back)”. split is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈbɝst/
1.v.come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
“The bubble burst”
2.v.force out or release suddenly and often violently something pent up
“break into tears”
3.v.burst outward, usually with noise
“The champagne bottle exploded”
/ˈsplɪt/
1.n.extending the legs at right angles to the trunk (one in front and the other in back)
2.n.a bottle containing half the usual amount
3.n.a promised or claimed share of loot or money
“he demanded his split before they disbanded”
| burst | split | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɝst/ | /ˈsplɪt/ |
| Said | burst | split |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 5 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | noun, verb, adjective |
| Senses | 12 | 18 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | split, break open | none recorded |
Full entry for burst · Full entry for split · More comparisons