Takes off (6)
(Other definitions for splits that I've seen before include "Shares" , "Separates or cuts with a sharp tool" , "Cleaves or divides" , "Breaks into two parts as with axe" , "Acrobatic feat -- schisms" .)
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">takes off</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">('subtract' can be a synonym of 'take off')</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Another definition for subtracts that I've seen is " Deducts, takes away".)