fracture

[frak-cher]

noun

1. the breaking of a bone, cartilage, or the like, or the resulting condition.

2. the act of breaking; state of being broken.

3. a break, breach, or split.

4. the characteristic manner of breaking.

   a material of unpredictable fracture.

5. the characteristic appearance of a broken surface, as of a mineral.

verb (used with object)

fractured, fracturing 

1. to cause or to suffer a fracture in (a bone, etc.).

2. to break or crack.

   Synonyms: split, rupture, splinter, shatter, smash

3. Slang.,  to amuse highly or cause to laugh heartily; delight.

   The new comic really fractured the audience.

verb (used without object)

fractured, fracturing 

1. to become fractured; break.

   a mineral that does not fracture easily.

fracture

/ ˈfræktʃə /

noun

1. the act of breaking or the state of being broken

2. 1. the breaking or cracking of a bone or the tearing of a cartilage

   2. the resulting condition See also Colles' fracture comminuted fracture compound fracture greenstick fracture impacted

3. a division, split, or breach

4. mineralogy

   1. the characteristic appearance of the surface of a freshly broken mineral or rock

   2. the way in which a mineral or rock naturally breaks

verb

1. to break or cause to break; split

2. to break or crack (a bone) or (of a bone) to become broken or cracked

3. to tear (a cartilage) or (of a cartilage) to become torn

fracture

1. A break or rupture in bone tissue.

2. ◆ A comminuted fracture results in more than two fragments.

3. ◆ Although most fractures are caused by a direct blow or sudden, twisting force, stress fractures result from repetitive physical activity.

4. ◆ In an incomplete fracture, the fracture line does not completely traverse the bone.

Other Word Forms

• fracturable adjective
• fractural adjective
• fracturer noun
• postfracture adjective
• refracturable adjective
• refracture verb
• unfractured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fracture¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin frāctūra “a breach, cleft, fracture,” from frāct(us) “broken” (past participle of frangere “to break, shatter”; break ) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of fracture¹

C15: from Old French, from Latin fractūra , from frangere to break

Example Sentences

“But policymakers will need to tread carefully, balancing ties between Washington and Beijing while ensuring they are not merely the collateral beneficiaries of a fractured trading order,” it adds.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When Biggs, who rarely appeared at the park, died in 2021, his real estate empire was fractured between his first wife, Charlotte, and his second wife, Loretta, further complicating the Bowl’s management.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And can it survive in an era of fracturing global alliances and economic uncertainty?

Read more on Barron's

Many bones showed fresh fractures caused by blunt impacts soon after the elephant's death, indicating deliberate breakage.

Read more on Science Daily

The group’s demise reflects broad cultural changes, including a fractured media environment and consumers’ shift to streaming and social media apps such as TikTok for entertainment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crack 
• fissure 
• wound