fracture

play

noun frac·ture \ ˈfrak-chər , -shər \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of fracture

1 :the result of fracturing :break

2 a :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

See fracture defined for English-language learners

See fracture defined for kids

Examples of fracture in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of fracture from the Web

Then an eight-week timeline was given to him after he was diagnosed with a tibial plateau fracture.

— drew davison, star-telegram, "Cowboys LB Anthony Hitchens may return before initial 8-week timeline," 30 Aug. 2017
This, too, is an ancient Japanese tradition, dating back to one of its emperors, a way of preserving the past, acknowledging its fractures and cracks.

— zan romanoff, Bon Appetit, "We Go to This Restaurant Just to Stare at the Ceramics," 29 Aug. 2017
Such fractures have been building in Silicon Valley for some time, reaching even into its highest echelons.

— nick wingfield, New York Times, "The Culture Wars Have Come to Silicon Valley," 8 Aug. 2017
Lewis was among the leaders of the civil rights movement and suffered a skull fracture in 1965 during the famed march in Selma when marchers were attacked by Alabama State Troopers.

— paul gattis, AL.com, "Civil rights icon John Lewis endorses Doug Jones in Democratic Senate race," 8 Aug. 2017
A motorcyclist ran over his left foot that offseason in Venezuela and recovery from the fracture limited Ortiz to 15 minor-league appearances in 2014.

— tim tierney, Daily Southtown, "Ex-major leaguer Joseph Ortiz hits comeback trail with Slammers," 26 July 2017
Jeremy Renner, who plays the crack-shot archer Hawkeye in the Avengers series, sustained fractures in both of his arms during a stunt filmed for the action-comedy Tag.

— vanityfair.com, "Jeremy Renner Injured Both His Arms Filming a Stunt, but Says He’ll Be Totally Fine," 8 July 2017
This surgical intervention will also decrease the risk for bone fracture and any other complications of hyperparathyroidism.

— dr. manny alvarez, Fox News, "Are you suffering from a parathyroid condition?," 4 July 2017
The debate also revealed fractures over Brexit in the opposition Labour Party.

— simon kennedy, Bloomberg.com, "Brexit Bulletin: May Moves Along, Corbyn Sacks Rebels," 30 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of fracture

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 ¹break

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First Known Use: 15th century

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Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

fracture

verb

Definition of fracture

fractured; fracturing play \ˈfrak-chə-riŋ, -shriŋ\

transitive verb

1 a :to cause a fracture in :break

fracture a rib

b :rupture, tear

2 a :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.

See fracture defined for English-language learners

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.

Recent Examples of fracture from the Web

In a signal of Obama’s desire to repair the United States’ fractured relationship with Cuba, the U.S. abstained for the first time in October 2016 on the annual U.N. General Assembly vote condemning the embargo.

— mimi whitefield, miamiherald, "Trump: New policy on Cuba begins with enforcement of U.S. law," 17 June 2017
Shortstop has been an issue for the A’s ever since Marcus Semien fractured his right wrist.

— john hickey, The Mercury News, "A subtle shift in the A’s defensive depth," 30 May 2017
Yet the tone proves all wrong, further fracturing the focus.

— jon niccum, kansascity.com, "Waves of despair: Not even Dwayne Johnson can save ‘Baywatch’," 23 May 2017
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking -- consisting of forcing water mixed with sand and chemicals into a well to create fissures in shale rock so oil or gas can escape -- was first used commercially in 1949.

— mark shenk, Bloomberg.com, "Why the Permian Basin Is OPEC's New Headache: QuickTake Q&A," 22 May 2017
Segura missed most of the 2008 season in the Arizona Rookie League after fracturing his leg.

— ryan divish, The Seattle Times, "A closer look at the Mariners’ plethora of injured players on the disabled list," 20 May 2017
Her femur and collarbone were broken and her pelvis was fractured during the wreck, the lawsuit states.

— jonece starr dunigan | jdunigan@al.com, AL.com, "Family of Fairfield fire chief killed in wreck files wrongful death lawsuit," 12 May 2017
The collision fractured Long's fibula and caused severe ligament damage, requiring surgery for the three-time Pro Bowler.

— rich campbell, chicagotribune.com, "Bears release WR Eddie Royal; waive DL Will Sutton, others," 11 May 2017
The first camp was held in Italy, but brought together Vlade Divac and Toni Kukoc, teammates on the former Yugoslavian national team that grew estranged during the political turmoil that ensued as the country fractured.

— jon krawcynski, Jewish Journal, "INTERNATIONAL: In tense political times, NBA heading to Israel this summer," 26 Apr. 2017

Origin and Etymology of fracture

derivative of ¹fracture

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1612

See Words from the same year

fracture Synonyms

Synonyms

break up, bust, distintegrate, dismember, disrupt, break, fragment, rive

Antonyms

comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe

Related Words

atomize, crush, grind, powder, pulverize, reduce; blast, blow up, burst, detonate, explode; crack, pop, shatter, shiver, smash; chip, sliver, splinter, split; implode; destroy, ruin, wreck

Near Antonyms

doctor, fix, heal, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair

FRACTURE Defined for English Language Learners

fracture

play

noun

Definition of fracture for English Language Learners

: the result of breaking something : a crack or break; especially : a broken bone

fracture

verb

Definition of fracture for English Language Learners

: to cause a crack or break in (something hard, such as a bone)
of something hard : to crack or break
: to damage or destroy (something) or to be damaged or destroyed in a sudden or violent way

FRACTURE Defined for Kids

fracture

play

noun frac·ture \ ˈfrak-chər \

Definition of fracture for Students

:the result of breaking :damage or an injury caused by breaking

a bone fracture

fracture

verb

Definition of fracture for Students

fractured; fracturing

:¹break 2

fracture a rib

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.