fragmental

American  

[frag-men-tl] / frægˈmɛn tl /

adjective

1. fragmentary.

2. Geology. clastic.

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fragmental British  

/ fræɡˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. (of rocks or deposits) composed of fragments of pre-existing rocks and minerals

2. another word for fragmentary

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Usage

What does fragmental mean? The adjective fragmental means consisting of or reduced to fragments—pieces that have been broken off of or detached from something else. The adjective fragmentary is more commonly used to mean the same thing. The fossilized remains of a dinosaur might be described as fragmental if they exist in many different pieces, and perhaps some of the pieces are missing. The word fragment is also used to refer to a part or portion of something that is incomplete or isolated from the whole, such as a fragment of a movie or piece of music. Sometimes, fragmental is used to describe things as disjointed, disconnected, or incomplete. This sense of the word is most commonly used to describe intangible or abstract things, as in fragmental evidence or a fragmental proposal.  The adjective fragmented describes things that have been broken into fragments or things that are or have been disorganized or disunified in some way, such as an empire that was once unified but is now fragmented. The word fragmental is used in a more specific way in the context of geology to describe rocks or mineral deposits made up of fragments of other rocks and minerals. Example: Scholars have been able to piece together the text from the fragmental remains of the ancient parchment.

Other Word Forms

• fragmentally adverb

Etymology

Origin of fragmental

First recorded in 1790–1800; fragment + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Our understanding went from rudimentary and fragmental to advanced and unified with breathtaking speed, leaving this poor book wallowing in suddenly outdated ideas.

From Scientific American • Sep. 21, 2019

At the present time the fissure is traced by a line of several hundred insignificant mounds of fragmental materials which mark where the lava issued.

From The Elements of Geology by Norton, William Harmon

“Take that!” roared my opponent; and the bread-basket, with its fragmental cargo of biscuits, came full in my face, very considerately putting bread into my mouth for his supposed injury.

From Rattlin the Reefer by Marryat, Frederick

He enjoyed immensely the fragmental half-hours given him through those two days.

From Bertram Cope's Year by Fuller, Henry Blake

When a fragmental rock is composed chiefly of rocks belonging to the acidic group, we say it is felspathic.

From Geology by Geikie, James