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stress fracture

stress fracture

5 4.6
A small crack in a bone caused by doing the same movement again and again
  • noun
  • /strɛs ˈfræktʃər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fractura por estrés
  • The decreased bone mineral density often presents as multiple or recurring stress fractures.

And my body followed and three months later my stress fractures were healed by running on them.

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Examples

  • Almost sixty-eight percent (67.6%) of the collegiate athletes and 27.9% of the noncollegiate athletes reported previous stress fractures or performance-related injuries.

    Academic text (2004)
  • But the very people most prone to stress fractures are the ones least inclined to take a preventive break from training.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Mr England has a stress fracture.

  • The increased physical activity may also increase the risk of stress fractures.

    Academic text (2003)
  • As of now, it looks like no stress fractures in either foot, though.

    Blog text (5)
  • The easiest way to head off stress fractures is simple: rest.

    Academic text (2007)
  • I had a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal of my left foot.

  • I've got a foot stress fracture, so standing on it in one position for a long time is painful.

    Blog text (24)
  • Last November 2011, I suffered a stress fracture in my femoral neck/hip while training for Bay to Breakers.

    Blog text (15)
  • Last week, I learned I have a stress fracture in one foot.

Synonyms

fracture
vsstress fracture
364 4.1

A break in something hard like a bone or rock

is specifically a small crack caused by repeated stress not a single injury
hairline fracture
vsstress fracture
9 5.1

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

is defined by cause of repeated stress rather than thinness alone
fatigue fracture
vsstress fracture
  • Specialized
7.7

A crack that appears in metal or bone after repeated stress

is a small crack caused by repeated overuse rather than one sudden injury
capillary fracture
vsstress fracture
  • Specialized
7.4

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

highlights cause from repeated stress rather than just the thin break
incomplete fracture
vsstress fracture
  • Specialized
6.1

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

focuses on cause by repeated overuse rather than how far the crack goes

Antonyms

344 2.1

The body's natural process of getting better after injury or illness

How Severe

compound fracture
  • Specialized
6 6.0
complete fracture
  • Specialized
4.9
stress fracture
  • Specialized
5 4.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

stress + fracture

The meaning 'a small crack in a bone caused by repeated stress' is directly derivable from combining 'stress' (pressure/force) with 'fracture' (a break or crack), so a learner who knows both words can infer the compound meaning. This noun-noun composition is a transparent biomedical collocation and has clear parallels in many languages, making it readily comprehensible at B1 level.

Etymology

Stress fracture creates a clear image: repeated stress on a bone slowly makes a tiny fracture, a 'small crack'. That's why it means 'a small crack' in the bone caused by too much use rather than a single sudden injury.