verb
to separate, to divide, to divorce
B1
scheiden — strong irregular verb meaning 'to separate', 'to divide', and in reflexive constructions often 'to divorce' (via sich scheiden lassen). Past stem schied, participle geschieden. Uses haben as auxiliary. Non-reflexive scheiden = separate/divide; reflexive use (sich scheiden lassen) means to get divorced.
Examples
Das Paar hat sich scheiden lassen.
The couple got divorced.
Die Maschine kann das Material in zwei Teile scheiden.
The machine can separate the material into two parts.
Das Paar hat sich nach zehn Jahren entschieden, sich scheiden zu lassen.
After ten years the couple decided to get divorced.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a line being drawn to split (divide) two pieces apart; the line is 'scheiden'.
Sounds like 'shy-den' — imagine something being shy and moving apart.
Notes
scheiden is versatile: transitive or reflexive in contexts like 'sich scheiden lassen' (to get divorced). It is an older strong verb; in everyday speech 'sich scheiden lassen' is the common phrase for divorce.