Definition of fracture
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
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of fracture in a Sentence
a fracture in the Earth's crust
She suffered a wrist fracture when she slipped on the ice.
Origin and Etymology of fracture
Middle English, from Latin fractura, from fractus
First Known Use: 15th century
fracture
Definition of fracture
fractured
;fracturing
play \ˈfrak-chə-riŋ, -shriŋ\transitive verb
1a : to cause a fracture in : break fracture a ribb : rupture, tear
2a : to damage or destroy as if by rupturingb : to cause great disorder inc : to break up : fractionated : 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.
Examples of fracture in a Sentence
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.
1612
First Known Use of fracture
1612
FRACTURE Defined for English Language Learners
fracture
playDefinition of fracture for English Language Learners
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: the result of breaking something : a crack or break; especially : a broken bone
fracture
Definition of fracture for English Language Learners
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: to cause a crack or break in (something hard, such as a bone)
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of something hard : to crack or break
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: to damage or destroy (something) or to be damaged or destroyed in a sudden or violent way
FRACTURE Defined for Kids
Definition of fracture for Students
: the result of breaking : damage or an injury caused by breaking a bone fracture
Word Root of fracture
The Latin word frangere, meaning “to break,” and its form fractus give us the roots frag and fract. Words from the Latin frangere have something to do with breaking. Something fragile is easily broken. A fraction is a portion broken off from a whole. To fracture something, such as a bone, is to break it. A fragment is a part that has been broken off from something larger or that is incomplete.
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of fracture
1: the act or process of breaking or the state of being broken; specifically : the breaking of hard tissue and especially bone
2: the rupture (as by tearing) of soft tissue kidney fracture
Illustration of fracture
fracture
Medical Definition of fracture
fractured
;fracturing
\-chə-riŋ, -shriŋ\play1: to cause a fracture in fracture a rib
2: to cause a rupture or tear in a blow that fractured a kidney
Learn More about fracture
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See words that rhyme with fracture Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fracture Spanish Central: Translation of fracture Nglish: Translation of fracture for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fracture for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fracture
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