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
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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
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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.
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This surgical intervention will also decrease the risk for bone fracture and any other complications of hyperparathyroidism.
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The debate also revealed fractures over Brexit in the opposition Labour Party.
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Tilson, who was injured during his major-league debut last season, has been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the navicular bone in his right ankle and will be in a walking boot for four weeks before being reevaluated.
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First Team Carla Jewell, Hobart, junior, singles: Went 17-3 despite a stress fracture in her ankle, which almost sidelined her for the postseason.
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However, the win was tough as Portugal's left-back Raphael Guerreiro was hospitalized with a suspected leg fracture.
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On Oct. 1, 2005, the former Alabama star suffered a compound fracture in his lower left leg in a route of the Florida Gators.
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That was very difficult for a man of his complications and his difficulties, his fissures and fractures.
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, from Latin fractura, from fractus
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.
Recent Examples of fracture from the Web
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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.
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Shortstop has been an issue for the A’s ever since Marcus Semien fractured his right wrist.
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Yet the tone proves all wrong, further fracturing the focus.
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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.
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Segura missed most of the 2008 season in the Arizona Rookie League after fracturing his leg.
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Her femur and collarbone were broken and her pelvis was fractured during the wreck, the lawsuit states.
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The collision fractured Long's fibula and caused severe ligament damage, requiring surgery for the three-time Pro Bowler.
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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.
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.
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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