fracture
n
1 the act of breaking or the state of being broken
a the breaking or cracking of a bone or the tearing of a cartilage
b the resulting condition
See also →
Colles' fracture →
comminuted fracture →
compound fracture →
greenstick fracture →
impacted →
2
3 a division, split, or breach
a the characteristic appearance of the surface of a freshly broken mineral or rock
b the way in which a mineral or rock naturally breaks
vb
5 to break or cause to break; split
6 to break or crack (a bone) or (of a bone) to become broken or cracked
7 to tear (a cartilage) or (of a cartilage) to become torn
(C15: from Old French, from Latin fractura, from frangere to break)
♦
fracturable adj
♦
fractural adj