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to rupture

to rupture

95 6.8
To break open suddenly and violently
  • verb
  • /ˈrʌptʃər/
translation icon : romper
  • Now the crisis' unequal impact threatens to rupture the politically fragile framework of regional ties.
  • rupture the membrane
  • rupture an aneurysm
  • rupture the cell

Trust is already ruptured in a narcissistic relationship.

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Examples

  • Emergency readouts show the primary and secondary air lines ruptured!

  • Overnight, an area high on the wall of the storage tank ruptured, releasing the acid.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Past 17, the hull could rupture.

  • But if they ever put too much pressure on that pump... and they rupture those pipes-

  • It's gonna kill you anyway when it ruptures.

  • The anchor could snag any one of them and rupture it.

  • This can cause tissues to shift and rupture, and fluids to collect in critical organs.

  • The strain of the contractions and the pushing caused the aneurysm to rupture.

  • Rather, they have ruptured lungs similar to those seen in scuba divers who surface too quickly.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The old pipes began to rupture under the extreme pressure of the water.

Synonyms

to break
vsto rupture
1.0

To change a large bill into smaller bills

adds the idea of sudden violent bursting or abrupt separation
to blow
vsto rupture
3.5

To break suddenly because of pressure or too much electricity

is about abrupt physical parting or bursting rather than only failure
to tear
vsto rupture
1.0

To pull something so it breaks into pieces

is about sudden violent separation or bursting rather than steady pulling
to explode
vsto rupture
579 2.8

To burst suddenly and violently, making a loud noise and flying pieces

covers sudden violent separation but not necessarily large energy release
to bust
vsto rupture
  • Informal
553 4.0

To break something so it does not work

is the formal neutral term for abrupt violent separation
to crack
vsto rupture
311 1.0

To break or form a narrow split in a surface

is more about sudden full separation or bursting apart
to smash
vsto rupture
311 2.1

To break something into many pieces using great force

is specifically about sudden violent parting or bursting, not general ruin
to wreck
vsto rupture
225 2.9

To badly damage or destroy something

is specific to sudden violent separation rather than overall damage
to snap
vsto rupture
167 2.3

Break suddenly and completely, often with a sharp noise

is similar but stresses general sudden violent separation not sound
to burst
vsto rupture
164 1.4

Break open suddenly because of pressure inside

is like this but applies to any abrupt violent separation
to pop
vsto rupture
149 1.0

To burst or make something burst with a sudden sound

is broader, meaning abrupt violent parting rather than a small sound
to fracture
vsto rupture
91 4.7

To break a hard object, for example a bone or rock

implies sudden violent splitting often leading to full parting
to shatter
vsto rupture
72 2.8

To break suddenly into many small pieces, like glass

means abrupt violent separation but not always into many fragments
to come apart
vsto rupture
44 3.1

To break into pieces or fall into separate parts

is about sudden violent separation rather than slow disintegration
to fragment
vsto rupture
39 3.7

To break into small pieces or make something break apart

is about sudden violent separation, not necessarily many small pieces
to bust up
vsto rupture
  • Informal
34 5.8

To break something into pieces by hitting it hard

is similar but more neutral and not slangy in tone
to break apart
vsto rupture
26 3.0

To separate into pieces, for example a machine or a group

is focused on sudden violent bursting or splitting rather than gradual breakup
to break open
vsto rupture
13 2.1

To open something suddenly by force, for example a locked door or jar

is broader, meaning abrupt violent separation not only opening
to rend
vsto rupture
10 8.7

To pull something apart with great force

describes abrupt violent parting without focusing only on tearing action
to snap off
vsto rupture
9 3.5

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

describes abrupt total separation rather than removing just one piece
to smash up
vsto rupture
  • Informal
5 4.7

To damage something very badly so it breaks into pieces

is sudden violent separation but not always heavy smashing action
to rive
vsto rupture
2 9.9

To tear something violently or be torn apart, often used for feelings

is similar but covers general sudden separation, not only tearing
to break away
vsto rupture
2 3.5

To come off a larger thing, often because of force or damage

implies abrupt violent parting of the whole rather than planned leaving
to rift
vsto rupture
1 4.1

To split or break apart suddenly

is similar but centers on abrupt violent bursting rather than a gap
to discerp
vsto rupture
  • Archaic
9.9

To tear something into separate parts, usually by force

covers abrupt violent parting but not specifically division into parts
to fragmentize
vsto rupture
8.2

To break something into many small pieces

focuses on abrupt violent parting rather than the resulting pieces
to busticate
vsto rupture
  • Slang
9.9

Make something stop working by hitting or dropping it

is a neutral term for sudden and violent parting without slang

Antonyms

365 1.0

To fix something that is broken or not working

41 1.2

Fix something that is broken or torn

How Severe

to burst
164 1.4
to rupture
95 6.8
to break
1.0
to fracture
91 4.7
to crack
311 1.0
to chip
104 2.3

Surface Forms

rupture infinitive
ruptured past
ruptured past participle
rupturing present participle
ruptures third person singular

Morphology

rupture = rupt + ure

The verb form is historically built from the same combining form and suffix, but these elements are not recognizable as independent English words to learners, so the morphology is not transparent.

Etymology

Rupture as a verb comes from the same old Latin root rupt meaning 'to break'. So to rupture something is to make it break or burst suddenly, for example a pipe that splits under pressure.