comminute
Americanverb (used with object)
adjective
-
comminuted; divided into small parts.
-
powdered; pulverized.
verb
-
to break (a bone) into several small fragments
-
to divide (property) into small lots
-
(tr) to pulverize
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Woods suffered comminuted open fractures to the tibia and fibula in his right leg, which means both bones broke into at least three pieces and broke through the skin.
From Washington Post
The fractures were described as comminuted, which meant the bones were broken in several places.
From New York Times
Woods suffered comminuted open fractures to both the tibia and fibula in his right leg, which means both bones broke into at least three pieces and broke through the skin.
From Washington Post
He was transported to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center immediately after the crash, where he underwent surgery on comminuted open fractures to the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg.
From Washington Times
He suffered comminuted open fractures to the tibia and fibula, which means both major bones in his lower right leg broke into multiple pieces and poked through the skin, which increased the threat of infection.
From Washington Post
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.
