fragmental
Americanadjective
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(of rocks or deposits) composed of fragments of pre-existing rocks and minerals
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another word for fragmentary
Usage
What does fragmental mean? The adjective fragmental means consisting of or reduced to fragments—pieces that have been broken off of or detached from something else. The adjective fragmentary is more commonly used to mean the same thing. The fossilized remains of a dinosaur might be described as fragmental if they exist in many different pieces, and perhaps some of the pieces are missing. The word fragment is also used to refer to a part or portion of something that is incomplete or isolated from the whole, such as a fragment of a movie or piece of music. Sometimes, fragmental is used to describe things as disjointed, disconnected, or incomplete. This sense of the word is most commonly used to describe intangible or abstract things, as in fragmental evidence or a fragmental proposal. The adjective fragmented describes things that have been broken into fragments or things that are or have been disorganized or disunified in some way, such as an empire that was once unified but is now fragmented. The word fragmental is used in a more specific way in the context of geology to describe rocks or mineral deposits made up of fragments of other rocks and minerals. Example: Scholars have been able to piece together the text from the fragmental remains of the ancient parchment.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fragmental
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.
Our understanding went from rudimentary and fragmental to advanced and unified with breathtaking speed, leaving this poor book wallowing in suddenly outdated ideas.
From Scientific American ● Sep. 21, 2019
Sedimentary rocks are divided into the fragmental rocks—which are made of fragments, either coarse or fine—and the far less common rocks which are constituted of chemical precipitates.
From The Elements of Geology by William Harmon Norton
To Joanna, Scott inscribed his fragmental drama of "Macduff's Cross," which was included in a Miscellany published by her in 1823.
From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume I. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century by Charles Rogers
Rocks that are made out of fragments of other rocks torn down by the agencies of erosion are called fragmental.
From Earth and Sky Every Child Should Know Easy studies of the earth and the stars for any time and place by Julia Ellen Rogers
When a fragmental rock is composed chiefly of rocks belonging to the acidic group, we say it is felspathic.
From Geology by James Geikie
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