First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1fracture
noun frac·ture \ˈfrak-chər, -shər\
: the result of breaking something : a crack or break; especially : a broken bone
Full Definition of FRACTURE
1
: the result of fracturing : break
2
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>
3
: the general appearance of a freshly broken surface of a mineral
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Origin of FRACTURE
Middle English, from Latin fractura, from fractus
Other Medicine Terms
Rhymes with FRACTURE
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
2
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
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First Known Use of FRACTURE
1612
Related to FRACTURE
- Antonyms
- comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe
FRACTURED 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.
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