comminute

American  

[kom-uh-noot, -nyoot] / ˈkɒm əˌnut, -ˌnyut /

verb (used with object)

comminuted, comminuting

1. to pulverize; triturate.

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adjective

1. comminuted; divided into small parts.

2. powdered; pulverized.

comminute British  

/ ˈkɒmɪˌnjuːt /

verb

1. to break (a bone) into several small fragments

2. to divide (property) into small lots

3. (tr) to pulverize

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Other Word Forms

• comminution noun
• uncomminuted adjective

Etymology

Origin of comminute

1620–30; < Latin comminūtus, past participle of comminuere, equivalent to com- com- + minuere to lessen, akin to minor minor

Example Sentences

Likewise the double teeth or grinders, either drop out, or rot away; so as now to be too few remaining to comminute solid food.

From Medica Sacra or a Commentary on on the Most Remarkable Diseases Mentioned in the Holy Scriptures by Mead, Richard

The stomach is well muscled and churns the food about, helping to comminute it, but it can not take the place of the teeth.

From Maintaining Health Formerly Health and Efficiency by Alsaker, R. L.

That the stomach is fully able to comminute the food may be proved by the following calculation.

From The Evolution of Modern Medicine A Series of Lectures Delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913 by Osler, William

So this question becomes urgent: Why, the absolute's own total vision of things being so rational, was it necessary to comminute it into all these coexisting inferior fragmentary visions?

From A Pluralistic Universe Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College on the Present Situation in Philosophy by James, William

The soft and yielding texture of this organ—the stomach—indicates that it is not designed to crush and comminute solid articles of food.

From A Treatise on Physiology and Hygiene For Educational Institutions and General Readers by Hutchison, Joseph Chrisman

Related Words

• break
• crumble
• mash
• squash
• squeeze
• trample