Real Dictionary

splinter
countable noun: A splinter is a very thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or other hard substance, which has broken off from a larger piece.
verb: If something splinters or is splintered, it breaks into thin, sharp pieces.

splinter in American English
a thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, etc., made by splitting or breaking; sliver
designating a group that separates from a main party, church, etc. because of divergent views
to break or split into thin, sharp pieces
noun: a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, or the like, split or broken off from the main body

splinter in British English
noun: a very small sharp piece of wood, glass, metal, etc, characteristically long and thin, broken off from a whole
verb: to reduce or be reduced to sharp fragments; shatter