fracture

[ frak-cher ]

noun

1. the breaking of a bone, cartilage, or the like, or the resulting condition. Compare comminuted fracture, complete fracture, compound fracture, greenstick fracture, simple fracture.
2. the act of breaking; state of being broken.
3. a break, breach, or split.
4. the characteristic manner of breaking:

   a material of unpredictable fracture.

5. the characteristic appearance of a broken surface, as of a mineral.

verb (used with object)

, frac·tured, frac·tur·ing.

1. to cause or to suffer a fracture in (a bone, etc.).
2. to break or crack.

   Synonyms: split, rupture, splinter, shatter, smash

3. Slang. to amuse highly or cause to laugh heartily; delight:

   The new comic really fractured the audience.

verb (used without object)

, frac·tured, frac·tur·ing.

1. to become fractured; break:

   a mineral that does not fracture easily.

fracture

/ ˈfræktʃə /

noun

1. the act of breaking or the state of being broken
2. 1. the breaking or cracking of a bone or the tearing of a cartilage
   2. the resulting condition See also Colles' fracture comminuted fracture compound fracture greenstick fracture impacted
3. a division, split, or breach
4. mineralogy
   1. the characteristic appearance of the surface of a freshly broken mineral or rock
   2. the way in which a mineral or rock naturally breaks

verb

1. to break or cause to break; split
2. to break or crack (a bone) or (of a bone) to become broken or cracked
3. to tear (a cartilage) or (of a cartilage) to become torn

fracture

/ frăk′chər /

1. A break or rupture in bone tissue.
2. ◆ A comminuted fracture results in more than two fragments.
3. ◆ Although most fractures are caused by a direct blow or sudden, twisting force, stress fractures result from repetitive physical activity.
4. ◆ In an incomplete fracture , the fracture line does not completely traverse the bone.

Derived Forms

• ˈfracturable, adjective
• ˈfractural, adjective

Other Words From

• fractur·a·ble adjective
• fractur·al adjective
• fractur·er noun
• post·fracture adjective noun
• re·fractur·a·ble adjective
• re·fracture verb refractured refracturing
• un·fractured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fracture¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin frāctūra “a breach, cleft, fracture,” from frāct(us) “broken” (past participle of frangere “to break, shatter”; break ) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of fracture¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin fractūra , from frangere to break

Example Sentences

Mr Mian KC said the fractures Mr Sharif caused were healing by the time of her death and were not a “significant contributory factor”.

From BBC

A pathologist recorded 37 bruises and a fractured skull from a fall.

From BBC

Risk of death from hip fracture increases with age, making bone loss one of the most significant long-term dangers of extended space missions.

From Salon

The reason, he asserted, is that “fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.”

From Los Angeles Times

Could such a thing happen in our fractured, culturally insular day and age?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crack
• fissure
• wound