fracture

noun

frac·ture | \ ˈfrak-chər $How to pronounce fracture (audio)$ , -shər\

Definition of fracture

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the result of fracturing : break

2a : the act or process of breaking or the state of being broken especially : the breaking of hard tissue (such 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

fracture

verb

fractured; fracturing\ ˈfrak-chə-riŋ $How to pronounce fracturing (audio)$ , -shriŋ \

Definition of fracture (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to cause a crack or fracture in : break fracture a rib

b : rupture, tear

2a : to damage or destroy as if by rupturing

b : to cause great disorder in

c : to break up : fractionate

d : to go beyond the limits of (something, such as a rule) : violate … fractured many of the laws of probability …— Sheldon Cheney

intransitive verb

: to undergo fracture : to crack or break Her wrist fractured in the fall.

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about fracture

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Examples of fracture in a Sentence

Noun

a fracture in the Earth's crust She suffered a wrist fracture when she slipped on the ice.

Verb

Her wrist fractured when she fell on the ice. Their happiness was fractured by an unforeseen tragedy. These problems may fracture the unity of the two parties. Their fragile happiness fractured all too soon.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The earlier study, of five skeletal samples, found three with unhealed compression fractures, perhaps inflicted by huge hailstones, although that conclusion is open to debate. — Robin George Andrews, New York Times, "The Mystery of the Himalayas’ Skeleton Lake Just Got Weirder," 26 Aug. 2019 Cannondale has issued a voluntary recall for its CAADX cyclocross bikes over an issue with fork fractures. — Ariella Gintzler, Outside Online, "Cannondale Recalls More Than 11,000 CAADX Bikes," 29 July 2019 The Dallas County Sheriff's Department is looking for a man who left a Sunnyvale gas station clerk inside a cooler with three skull fractures during a robbery last week. — Maria Elena Vizcaino, Dallas News, "Robber left gas station clerk inside cooler with fractured skull, Dallas County officials say," 9 July 2019 The brutal attack on Ruiz-Vazquez last Wednesday left her with fractures to her face and nose. — Jericka Duncan, CBS News, "Mother allegedly attacked by her son's 13-year-old bully," 26 June 2019 My face was covered in blood, my nose and arm broken, my back had a wide gash and tire marks with micro fractures, my abdomen bruised and covered in tire marks, and my liver lacerated. — Kristi Turnquist, OregonLive.com, "Woman injured in PSU hit-and-run says 'it's been difficult,' shares charity fundraising goal," 10 June 2018 However, investigators say an autopsy showed the infant suffered at least four separate skull fractures. — Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, "Charge dismissed against father in infant son’s 2013 blunt force trauma death," 16 Sep. 2019 Baez was scheduled to be examined by a hand specialist Monday to determine how long he will be sidelined after an MRI revealed a hairline fracture of his left thumb. — Mark Gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Addison Russell suffers a nasal bruise and is under examination for a concussion after his beaning against the Brewers," 8 Sep. 2019 The pathologist's autopsy found that Epstein suffered fractures in his neck bones, according to two people familiar with the findings. — Carol D. Leonnig, Matt Zapotosky, Anchorage Daily News, "Footage from at least one camera outside Epstein’s cell deemed unusable," 27 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

That is, if other issues don’t fracture his relationship with lawmakers. — Los Angeles Times, "News Analysis: California’s Legislature tackled big issues in 2019. Bigger fights might be coming," 16 Sep. 2019 The Wolves locker room was viewed by many as fractured during the Tom Thibodeau and Jimmy Butler era. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, "Traveling across the U.S., and to the Bahamas, Ryan Saunders and the Timberwolves placing a premium on team bonding," 2 Sep. 2019 The 86-year-old Supreme Court Justice recently returned to work after enduring a fall that fractured three of her ribs, as well as undergoing a surgery to remove cancerous nodules from her left lung. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "Turns Out, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Gives Great Relationship Advice—Just Ask J.Lo," 1 Sep. 2019 The Marlins’ top player, Anderson fractured his left fifth metacarpal after being drilled by a fastball in Friday’s win over the Philadelphia Phillies. — Wells Dusenbury, sun-sentinel.com, "With Brian Anderson out, how do Marlins fill the void without their best player?," 24 Aug. 2019 After a worker fractured her neck in a car accident and missed a week and a half of work, Wilson assigned her dish duty. — Sarah Schweitzer, The Atlantic, "The Lunch Ladies of New Canaan," 15 Aug. 2019 The Courier-Journal reported one protester said McConnell should have broken his neck instead of fracturing his shoulder; another spoke of violence when responding to a reference about a hypothetical McConnell voodoo doll. — Alan Fram, Fortune, "GOP Freezes Twitter Spending After McConnell Account Locked," 8 Aug. 2019 The episodes come as Ms. Merkel is trying to keep a fracturing coalition together. — Bojan Pancevski, WSJ, "Angela Merkel Suffers Third Shaking Episode in Under a Month," 10 July 2019 These multiple personalities narrate the book in dizzying and propulsive fashion, demonstrating just how much Ada’s identity is fractured by the voices in her head. — The Atlantic, "What We’re Reading This Summer," 28 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fracture.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for fracture

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Latin frāctūra "act of breaking, breaking of a bone," from frāctus (past participle of frangere "to break, shatter") + -ūra -ure — more at break entry 1

Verb

derivative of fracture entry 1

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