fracture
Americannoun
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the breaking of a bone, cartilage, or the like, or the resulting condition.
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the act of breaking; state of being broken.
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a break, breach, or split.
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the characteristic manner of breaking.
a material of unpredictable fracture.
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the characteristic appearance of a broken surface, as of a mineral.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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the act of breaking or the state of being broken
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the breaking or cracking of a bone or the tearing of a cartilage
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the resulting condition See also Colles' fracture comminuted fracture compound fracture greenstick fracture impacted
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a division, split, or breach
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mineralogy
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the characteristic appearance of the surface of a freshly broken mineral or rock
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the way in which a mineral or rock naturally breaks
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verb
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to break or cause to break; split
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to break or crack (a bone) or (of a bone) to become broken or cracked
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to tear (a cartilage) or (of a cartilage) to become torn
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A break or rupture in bone tissue.
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◆ A comminuted fracture results in more than two fragments.
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◆ Although most fractures are caused by a direct blow or sudden, twisting force, stress fractures result from repetitive physical activity.
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◆ 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
Etymology
Origin of fracture
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
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.
Acclaimed for its ability to capture the contemporary fractures in the United States, the film received 13 Oscar nominations, including one for each of its lead actors.
From Barron's
The 35-year-old striker, who has joined Qatari side Al‑Sailiya, says owners of English clubs were wary of signing him following his accident in December 2024, which left him with multiple leg fractures.
From BBC
As women age and produce less estrogen, bone mass decreases, which can lead to osteopenia, thinning of the bones, and its more serious cousin, osteoporosis, which comes with a high risk of fracture.
Events are seen through Jack’s fractured perspective as he experiences flashbacks of his wartime service and memories of his dead wife and daughter.
Still, for a few weeks, the fracturing country united in grief over the loss of Dr. Elisha Kent Kane, America’s Arctic hero.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
