hydrofracturing

[hahy-droh-frak-cher-ing, hahy-droh-frak-]

noun

hydraulic fracturing.

Origin of hydrofracturing

First recorded in 1970–75; hydro-¹ + fracture + -ing¹

hydraulic fracturing

noun

a process in which fractures in rocks below the earth's surface are opened and widened by injecting chemicals and liquids at high pressure: used especially to extract natural gas or oil.

Also called frack·ing

[frak-ing] /ˈfræk ɪŋ/, hy·dro·frack·ing [hahy-droh-frak-ing] /ˈhaɪ droʊˌfræk ɪŋ/, hy·dro·frac·tur·ing [hahy-droh-frak-cher-ing] /ˈhaɪ droʊˌfræk tʃər ɪŋ/.