rupture
Americannoun
-
the act of breaking or bursting.
The flood led to the rupture of the dam.
-
the state of being broken or burst.
a rupture in the earth's surface.
-
a breach of harmonious, friendly, or peaceful relations.
-
Pathology. hernia, especially abdominal hernia.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
-
the act of breaking or bursting or the state of being broken or burst
-
a breach of peaceful or friendly relations
-
pathol
-
the breaking or tearing of a bodily structure or part
-
another word for hernia
-
verb
-
to break or burst or cause to break or burst
-
to affect or be affected with a rupture or hernia
-
to undergo or cause to undergo a breach in relations or friendship
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
unrupturedadjective
-
nonrupturenoun
-
nonrupturableadjective
-
rupturableadjective
-
unrupturableadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has rupturedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have rupturedperfect
-
has been rupturingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
am rupturingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been rupturingperfect progressive
-
is rupturingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
rupturessingular 3rd person
-
are rupturingprogressive
-
rupturingparticiple
Past
-
had rupturedperfect
-
were rupturingprogressive plural
-
rupturedparticiple
-
was rupturingprogressive singular
-
rupturedsimple
-
had been rupturingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of rupture
1475–85; < Latin ruptūra (noun), equivalent to rupt ( us ) (past participle of rumpere to break) + -ūra -ure
Explanation
A rupture is a break or tear in something that pulls it apart. A rupture can be a literal break, like the one that happens in, say, a gas line, or it can be more figurative, as in a friendship or a business deal. The oil spill was less of a spill than it was a rupture: the line leading to the well was severed, allowing the oil to flow into the ocean. Rupture works as both a noun and a verb. You can rupture the silence by screaming your head off, and any number of events in Star Trek can cause a rupture in the space-time continuum.
Vocabulary lists containing rupture
Make a Break for It: Rupt
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Mammoth Shakes and Monster Waves" Vocabulary from the informational text
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 2–October 8, 2021
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However, analysts worry that stripping Zelensky of the order may lead to a major diplomatic rupture that can have serious repercussions for both countries.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Several days after the injection, she had to have emergency surgery after showing signs of an ectopic pregnancy rupture.
From Salon • May 26, 2026
There remains the possibility that the tank will still explode or rupture in a massive leak that could send the chemical to foul up waterways and the ocean.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
“Does it rupture and spill, or does it blow up?” said Craig Covey, the division chief at the Orange County Fire Authority.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
What other part of speech than a noun is "rupture"? Ans.
From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
