fissure

American  

[fish-er, fizh-er] / ˈfɪʃ ər, ˈfɪʒ ər /

noun

fissures plural

1. a narrow opening produced by cleavage or separation of parts.

2. cleavage.

3. Anatomy. a natural division or groove in an organ, as in the brain.

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verb (used with object)

fissured, fissuring

1. to make fissures in; cleave; split.

verb (used without object)

fissured, fissuring

1. to open in fissures; become split.

fissure British  

/ ˈfɪʃə /

noun

1. any long narrow cleft or crack, esp in a rock

2. a weakness or flaw indicating impending disruption or discord

   fissures in a decaying empire

3. anatomy a narrow split or groove that divides an organ such as the brain, lung, or liver into lobes See also sulcus

4. a small unnatural crack in the skin or mucous membrane, as between the toes or at the anus

5. a minute crack in the surface of a tooth, caused by imperfect joining of enamel during development

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verb

1. to crack or split apart

fissure Scientific  

/ fĭsh′ər /

1. A long, narrow crack or opening in the face of a rock. Fissures are often filled with minerals of a different type from those in the surrounding rock.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subfissure
  noun
• superfissure
  noun
• fissural
  adjective
• fissureless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fissures
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fissure

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin fissūra cleaving, cleft, fissure, equivalent to fiss ( us ) divided ( see fissi-) + -ūra -ure

Explanation

A long fine crack in the surface of something is called a fissure. If you see a fissure in the ice on a frozen lake, you'll want to take off your skates and head back to the car. Fissure has its roots in the Latin word fissura, meaning a cleft or crack. If something breaks into fine cracks, you can describe the action with the verb form of fissure. For example, "She watched in horror as the earth fissured beneath her feet, recognizing the signs of an earthquake but powerless to do anything to save herself except throw herself to the ground and hang on."

Example Sentences

Fissure eruptions do not usually result in large explosions or signficicant columns of ash flying into the stratosphere, the statement said.

From New York Times • Aug. 4, 2022

"Who's to pay for all this?" asked Mr. Fissure, pertinently.

From Ginx's Baby: his birth and other misfortunes; a satire by Jenkins, Edward

Fissure or cracks of the skin caused by callus are treated in the same manner: by prolonged soaking in hot water, paring away the edges, and applying diachylon ointment or cold cream to the part.

From The Home Medical Library, Volume II (of VI) by Winslow, Kenelm

Fissure, fish′ūr, n. a narrow opening or chasm: a cleft, slit, or furrow: any groove or sulcus, esp. one of the furrows on the surface of the brain, as the longitudinal fissure separating the hemispheres.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Fissure veins are generally in positions of this kind, formed and filled in a similar manner, but with the various metallic ores.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 415, December 15, 1883 by Various

Related Words

• cleavage
• crevice