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to fracture

to fracture

91 4.7
To break a hard object, for example a bone or rock
  • verb
  • /ˈfræk.tʃɚ/
translation icon : fracturar
  • My left index finger hyperextended and fractured because of awkward contact with the ground from the impact.
  • fracture a bone
  • fracture the skull
  • fracture a hip

Only I fractured my ankle, my both wrists.

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Examples

Synonyms

to break
vsto fracture
1.0

To change a large bill into smaller bills

is specifically about cracking hard items or bones rather than general damage
to smash
vsto fracture
311 2.1

To break something into many pieces using great force

is about cracking hard items or bones rather than violent destruction
to crack
vsto fracture
127 1.9

To make a sudden sharp sound like something breaking

refers to physically splitting hard items or bones rather than just the sound
to rupture
vsto fracture
95 6.8

To break open suddenly and violently

focuses on cracking hard items or bones rather than sudden bursting events
to shatter
vsto fracture
72 2.8

To break suddenly into many small pieces, like glass

is about cracking hard items or bones rather than creating many tiny pieces
to fragment
vsto fracture
39 3.7

To break into small pieces or make something break apart

is about cracking hard items or bones rather than merely creating fragments
to bust up
vsto fracture
  • Informal
34 5.8

To break something into pieces by hitting it hard

is about cracking hard items or bones rather than sudden violent smashing
to splinter
vsto fracture
21 3.9

To break into many small, sharp pieces like wood or glass

is about cracking hard items or bones rather than producing thin sharp pieces
to snap off
vsto fracture
9 3.5

To break a piece from something with a quick, sharp movement

focuses on cracking whole hard items or bones rather than removing a small piece
to smash up
vsto fracture
  • Informal
5 4.7

To damage something very badly so it breaks into pieces

is about cracking hard items or bones rather than violent, general damage

Antonyms

365 1.0

To fix something that is broken or not working

41 1.2

Fix something that is broken or torn

Compounds

A very thin crack in a bone that does not split it

compound fracture
  • Specialized
6 6.0

A broken bone that tears through the skin, causing an open wound and a risk of infection

stress fracture
  • Specialized
5 4.6

A small crack in a bone caused by doing the same movement again and again

open fracture
  • Specialized
3 5.4

A broken bone that sticks out through a cut in the skin

compression fracture
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A broken bone that is pushed together and becomes shorter, often in the spine

depressed fracture
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A break in the skull where a piece of bone pushes inward toward the brain

comminuted fracture
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A bone that is broken into several pieces

greenstick fracture
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A bend and crack in a child's bone that does not break all the way through

closed fracture
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A broken bone that does not break the skin

impacted fracture
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A broken bone where one end is pushed into the other

simple fracture
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A broken bone that does not cut the skin or badly damage nearby tissue

capillary fracture
  • Specialized
7.4

A tiny crack in a bone that does not separate the pieces

complete fracture
  • Specialized
4.9

A break in a bone that goes all the way through and separates it into two or more pieces

displaced fracture
  • Specialized
6.8

A broken bone with two ends that are apart and not in line

fatigue fracture
  • Specialized
7.7

A crack that appears in metal or bone after repeated stress

hangman's fracture
  • Specialized
8.8

A break in the second neck bone caused by a strong backward force, often after a fall or car accident

incomplete fracture
  • Specialized
6.1

A crack in a bone that does not go all the way through

How Severe

to pulverize
  • US
8 7.4
to shatter
72 2.8
to fracture
91 4.7
to crack
311 1.0
to chip
104 2.3

Surface Forms

fracture infinitive
fractured past
fractured past participle
fracturing present participle
fractures third person singular

Morphology

fracture = fract + ure

Although analyzable as fract- + -ure historically, 'fract' is not a standalone modern English word, so the relation to the meaning 'break' is not transparent to an average learner.

Etymology

Fracture as a verb comes from Latin frangere 'to break', the same root in fragment. So to fracture something is to make it break or crack, for example a bone or a window.