Main Entry:

¹frac·ture

Pronunciation:

\ˈfrak-chər, -shər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin fractura, from fractus

Date:

15th century

1: the result of fracturing : break2 a: the act or process of breaking or the state of being broken ; especially : the breaking of hard tissue (as bone) b: the rupture (as by tearing) of soft tissue <kidney fracture>3: the general appearance of a freshly broken surface of a mineral