avulsion

American  

[uh-vuhl-shuhn] / əˈvʌl ʃən /

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.

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avulsion British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of avulsion

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

Example Sentences

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

The timing of avulsions—and means of combating them—has mystified scientists and engineers.

From Science Magazine

But levees force a river to drop silt within a constrained channel, hastening the next avulsion, Sinha says.

From Science Magazine

He underwent an MRI on Wednesday that reconfirmed a small avulsion fracture and ligament tear.

From Seattle Times