fissure

¹fis·sure

noun \ˈfi-shər\

Definition of FISSURE

1

: a narrow opening or crack of considerable length and depth usually occurring from some breaking or parting

2

a : a natural cleft between body parts or in the substance of an organ

b : a break or slit in tissue usually at the junction of skin and mucous membrane

3

: a separation or disagreement in thought or viewpoint : schism <fissures in a political party>

Examples of FISSURE

1. a fissure in the Earth's crust
2. a deep fissure in the ice

Origin of FISSURE

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin fissura, from fissus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FISSURE

Synonyms

check, chink, cleft, cranny, crevice, crack, rift, split

Related Words

crevasse; craze, hairline; fracture, rupture; breach, gap, opening; cut, gash, incision, slit

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

Rhymes with FISSURE

fisher, swisher

²fissure

verb

fis·suredfis·sur·ing

Definition of FISSURE

transitive verb

: to break into fissures : cleave

intransitive verb

: crack, divide

First Known Use of FISSURE

1656

Rhymes with FISSURE

swisher

fis·sure

noun \ˈfish-ər, British also ˈfish-yu̇r\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of FISSURE

1

: a natural cleft between body parts or in the substance of an organ: as a : any of several clefts separating the lobes of the liver b : any of various clefts between bones or parts of bones in the skull c : any of the deep clefts of the brain; especially : one of those located at points of elevation in the walls of the ventricles—compare sulcus d : anterior median fissure; also : posterior median septum

2

: a break or slit in tissue usually at the junction of skin and mucous membrane <fissure of the lip>

3

: a linear developmental imperfection in the enamel of a tooth

—fis·sured \ˈfish-ərd, British also ˈfish-yu̇rd\ (audio pronunciation) (audio pronunciation) adjective