avulsion

[ uh-vuhl-shuhn ]

noun

1. a tearing away.
2. Law. the sudden removal of soil by change in a river's course or by a flood, from the land of one owner to that of another.
3. a part torn off.

avulsion

/ əˈvʌlʃən /

noun

1. a forcible tearing away or separation of a bodily structure or part, either as the result of injury or as an intentional surgical procedure
2. law the sudden removal of soil from one person's land to that of another, as by flooding

Word History and Origins

Origin of avulsion¹

1615–25; < Latin āvulsiōn- (stem of āvulsiō ), equivalent to āvuls ( us ) torn off ( avulse ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of avulsion¹

C17: from Latin āvulsiō, from āvellere to pluck away, from vellere to pull, pluck

Example Sentences

Rivers occasionally flow over their banks to create a new path, a phenomenon known as an avulsion.

From Science Magazine

Sabonis was sidelined with an avulsion fracture of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb.

From Seattle Times

Paul is expected to miss the rest of the regular season because of a right thumb avulsion fracture.

From Seattle Times

She wrote that three months earlier she had injured her Achilles’ tendon and suffered an avulsion fracture in her foot.

From Washington Post

UConn: Starting guard Tyrese Martin is dealing with an avulsion fracture of his left wrist, which is expected to keep him out for at least two weeks.

From Seattle Times