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¹fracture

noun frac·ture \ˈfrak-chər, -shər\

: the result of breaking something : a crack or break; especially : a broken bone

Full Definition of FRACTURE

: the result of fracturing : break

a : the act or process of breaking or the state of being broken; especially : the breaking of hard tissue (as bone)

b : the rupture (as by tearing) of soft tissue <kidney fracture>

: the general appearance of a freshly broken surface of a mineral

See fracture defined for English-language learners

See fracture defined for kids

Origin of FRACTURE

Middle English, from Latin fractura, from fractus

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with FRACTURE

facture

²fracture

verb

: to cause a crack or break in (something hard, such as a bone)

of something hard : to crack or break

: to damage or destroy (something) or to be damaged or destroyed in a sudden or violent way

frac·turedfrac·tur·ing \-chə-riŋ, -shriŋ\

Full Definition of FRACTURE

transitive verb

a : to cause a fracture in : break <fracture a rib>

b : rupture, tear

a : to damage or destroy as if by rupturing

b : to cause great disorder in

c : to break up : fractionate

d : to go beyond the limits of (as rules) : violate <fractured the English language with malaprops — Goodman Ace>

intransitive verb

: to undergo fracture

See fracture defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of FRACTURE

1612

Related to FRACTURE

Synonyms: break up, bust, distintegrate, dismember, disrupt, break, fragment, rive

Antonyms: comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe

FRACTURE Defined for Kids

¹fracture

noun frac·ture \ˈfrak-chər\

Definition of FRACTURE for Kids

: the result of breaking : damage or an injury caused by breaking <a bone fracture>

²fracture

verb

frac·turedfrac·tur·ing

Definition of FRACTURE for Kids

: ¹break 2 <fracture a rib>

Word Root of FRACTURE

The Latin word frangere, meaning “to break,” and its form fractus give us the roots frag and fract. Words from the Latin frangere have something to do with breaking. Something fragile is easily broken. A fraction is a portion broken off from a whole. To fracture something, such as a bone, is to break it. A fragment is a part that has been broken off from something larger or that is incomplete.