Fracture Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

๐Ÿ’”
Add to dictionary

fracture

[หˆfrรฆktสƒษ™r ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

medical

A fracture is a broken bone. It is a common injury that can vary in severity, from a small crack to a complete break. Fractures can occur due to trauma, such as a fall or a car accident, or due to medical conditions like osteoporosis.

Synonyms

break, crack, injury.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
fracture

Medical or scientific settings when referring to a bone that has broken or cracks in structures like rocks.

  • The X-ray showed a fracture in her arm.
  • Geologists studied the fractures in the rock formation.
break

Everyday language to describe something that is physically split into pieces or does not work anymore.

  • He had to go to the hospital because he broke his leg.
  • Don't drop that vase, it might break.
crack

Describing something with a fissure or partial break that hasn't fully separated into pieces.

  • There's a crack in the windshield.
  • She noticed a crack in the wall.
injury

General term for harm or damage to the body, often used in both medical and everyday settings.

  • He suffered an injury during the football game.
  • The nurse treated her injury quickly.

Examples of usage

  • His arm was in a cast after he suffered a fracture from the fall.
  • The X-ray revealed a hairline fracture in the patient's leg.
Context #2 | Verb

medical

To fracture means to break or crack something, especially a bone. It can also refer to the process of causing a fracture.

Synonyms

break, crack, shatter.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
fracture

Used in medical or geological situations to describe bones or rocks that have been partially or completely broken.

  • The X-ray showed a small fracture in his wrist.
  • The earthquake caused a fracture in the bedrock.
break

General term applicable in various situations where something is separated into pieces. Often used for bones or objects.

  • Be careful, you might break the vase.
  • He suffered a leg break during the football game.
crack

Describes a line or small fissure on the surface of an object, indicating the beginning of a break. Often used for walls, eggs, and other objects.

  • Thereโ€™s a crack in the wall that needs to be fixed.
  • She noticed a fine crack in the china plate.
shatter

Describes something breaking into many small pieces, typically used for glass or other brittle materials.

  • The glass vase fell and shattered all over the floor.
  • His phone screen shattered when he dropped it.

Examples of usage

  • The impact of the collision caused the car's windshield to fracture.
  • The doctor had to fracture the bone in order to realign it properly.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Medical Science

  • In medicine, a fracture can be classified as 'closed' (skin remains intact) or 'open' (bone protrudes through the skin).
  • Fractures can heal naturally, but severe cases often require medical intervention, such as setting the bone.
  • Stress fractures are tiny cracks that develop in bones due to repetitive force or overuse, common in athletes.

Art and Literature

  • In literature, the concept of 'fracture' often symbolizes broken relationships or shattered dreams, depicted in various poetic works.
  • Artists sometimes represent fractures in their work to explore themes of brokenness and the reconstruction of identity.

Physics and Engineering

  • In materials science, a fracture's type can help determine how materials fail under stress, impacting engineering decisions.
  • Different materials, like metals and ceramics, fracture in different ways; understanding this helps in designing safer structures.

Cultural References

  • The term 'fracture' also appears in the titles of films and books, often indicating themes of division or conflict.
  • In some cultures, the concept of 'fracture' is related to myths about the breaking of the world, followed by reconstruction.

Origin of 'fracture'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'fracture' comes from the Latin 'fractura', meaning 'a break', from 'frangere', which means 'to break'.
  • The term has been used in English since the late 14th century, originally indicating a break in physical objects rather than figurative usage.

The word 'fracture' has its origins in Middle English, derived from Old French 'fracture' and Latin 'fractura'. The term has been used in medical contexts for centuries to describe the breaking or cracking of bones. Over time, its usage has expanded to include the breaking or cracking of various materials, not just limited to bones.


Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,593, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.