subdivide

Etymology

sub- + divide

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To divide into smaller sections.
   1. (real estate) To divide a plot of land into plots for residences; to convert open land into housing.
      This used to be farmland before developers bought it and subdivided it.
      Several local families recorded plots of land as additions to the town's territory and subdivided them into house lots. 1993, Historic American Building Survey, Town of Clayburg: Refractories Company Town, National Park Service, 3
2. (transitive, intransitive) To divide divisions into smaller divisions.