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 $How to pronounce fracture (audio)$ , -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 official diagnosis, per ESPN, was that Allen, 24, dislocated his ankle and suffered a small fracture when Washington played the New York Giants. — Korin Miller, Health.com, "Washington Football Team’s Kyle Allen Suffers Gruesome Ankle Injury on Video—Here’s How Dislocations Happen," 9 Nov. 2020 A day after his arrest, Zuniga was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a severe cervical fracture, a swollen spinal cord and was a diagnosed as a quadriplegic, according to the complaint. — Raja Razek, CNN, "Family sues officers for alleged use of excessive force and lack of medical care leading to man's death," 6 Oct. 2020 In this case, the fracture is in the cartilage covering the base of my femur. — Devin, Longreads, "Repetitive Stress," 2 Feb. 2021 Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Dylan Windler suffered a fourth metacarpal fracture during the team’s season-opening win on Wednesday night that will sideline him for at least one week. — Chris Fedor, cleveland, "Dylan Windler suffers fractured left hand, will be re-evaluated in one week," 24 Dec. 2020 Diggs participated in just one practice week after missing four games to a hairline foot fracture. — David Moore, Dallas News, "‘It was too open’: Why the Cowboys weren’t so happy about CeeDee Lamb’s touchdown return on onside kick," 20 Dec. 2020 His political ascendance paralleled a fracture in the state’s Republican Party over the issue of Black citizenship — one side divesting from the fight for civil rights and the other increasingly uninterested in appealing to white segregationists. — New York Times, "Raphael Warnock and the Solitude of the Black Senator," 20 Jan. 2021 Booth fractured his lower left leg, and passenger Jennifer Barham had a spinal fracture. — Felicia Fonseca, The Arizona Republic, "NTSB: Grand Canyon helicopter crash that killed 5 British tourists likely caused by wind," 15 Jan. 2021 Pierce was hospitalized for a pelvic fracture but has been released, the deputy chief said. — oregonlive, "Cleaning crew left holding cell open, allowing attempted murder suspect to escape, Portland police say," 4 Jan. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Michigan State Police said it is suspected the cannon gun powder in the device and caused the cannon to fracture. — CBS News, "Michigan man killed when cannon used at baby shower explodes," 8 Feb. 2021 In the case of Iran, many around Mr. Trump believed that a few years of crackdowns on oil exports would fracture the government there, or, at least as Mr. Trump himself predicted, force the country’s leadership to strike a new deal. — David E. Sanger, New York Times, "Declaring Democracy Won’t Be Subverted, Biden Demands Russia and Myanmar Reverse Course," 3 Feb. 2021 At that point Flournoy appeared to release the camera, causing Palladino to fall backwards onto the ground and fracture his skull, police said. — Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, "2 suspects charged in Jack Palladino's deadly attack to remain jailed," 2 Feb. 2021 Avalanches occur when a weak layer in the snow pack fails to hold additional weight, causing the layers above it to fracture and fall down the slope. — The Salt Lake Tribune, "With virus limits at ski resorts, backcountry risks beckon," 5 Dec. 2020 Wanda’s dream begins to fracture, a la The Truman Show or Pleasantville. — Eliana Dockterman, Time, "Wandavision Offers Hope That Originality Can Survive the Era of the Ever-Expanding Franchise," 16 Jan. 2021 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had hoped to avoid a vote that could fracture his caucus. — al, "Senators fighting Biden win evoke precedent that gave birth to Jim Crow," 3 Jan. 2021 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had hoped to avoid such a vote that could fracture his caucus. — Los Angeles Times, "Nearly a dozen GOP senators say they will object to electoral college results," 2 Jan. 2021 The high pressure of all the components causes rocks to fracture and the sand keeps those fissures open, while the chemicals help ease the oil or gas out. — Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, "Fracking: From Breaking Shale to Breaking Even," 21 Dec. 2020

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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