fracture Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun breaking of hard tissue such as bone
break.
- it was a nasty fracture
- the break seems to have been caused by a fall
noun (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
fault; geological fault; break; faulting; shift.
- they built it right over a geological fault
- he studied the faulting of the earth's crust
noun the act of cracking something
cracking; crack.
verb violate or abuse
- This writer really fractures the language
verb interrupt, break, or destroy
- fracture the balance of power
verb break into pieces
- The pothole fractured a bolt on the axle
verb become fractured
- The tibia fractured from the blow of the iron pipe
verb break (a bone)
- She broke her clavicle
verb fracture a bone of
break.
- I broke my foot while playing hockey

L. fractura, fr. frangere, fractum, to break: cf. F. fracture. See Fraction.

The act of breaking or snapping asunder; rupture; breach.
(Surg.) The breaking of a bone.
(Min.) The texture of a freshly broken surface; as, a compact fracture; an even, hackly, or conchoidal fracture. Syn. -- Fracture, Rupture. These words denote different kinds of breaking, according to the objects to which they are applied. Fracture is applied to hard substances; as, the fracture of a bone. Rupture is oftener applied to soft substances; as, the rupture of a blood vessel. It is also used figuratively. "To be an enemy and once to have been a friend, does it not embitter the rupture?" South.

Cf. F. fracturer.

imperfect & past participle Fractured present participle & verbal noun Fracturing

To cause a fracture or fractures in; to break; to burst asunder; to crack; to separate the continuous parts of; as, to fracture a bone; to fracture the skull.