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and fragmental to advanced and unified with breathtaking speed, leaving this poor book wallowing in suddenly outdated ideas.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
No evidence appears that the molten rock ever reached the surface, and if volcanic eruptions ever took place either in lava flows or fragmental materials, all traces of them have been effaced.
From The Elements of Geology by William Harmon Norton
The interior wall of Monte di Somma, the original crater of Vesuvius, presents a good illustration of such fragmental beds.
From Volcanoes: Past and Present by Edward Hull
But the walls were admitting a fragmental echo of what must have been a reverberating voice.
From The Finding of Haldgren by Charles Willard Diffin
“Take that!” roared my opponent; and the bread-basket, with its fragmental cargo of biscuits, came full in my face, very considerately putting bread into my mouth for his supposed injury.
From Rattlin the Reefer by Frederick Marryat
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