Search Result for "fracture": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (3)

1. breaking of hard tissue such as bone;
- Example: "it was a nasty fracture"
- Example: "the break seems to have been caused by a fall"
[syn: fracture, break]

2. (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other;
- Example: "they built it right over a geological fault"
- Example: "he studied the faulting of the earth's crust"
[syn: fault, faulting, geological fault, shift, fracture, break]

3. the act of cracking something;
[syn: fracture, crack, cracking]


VERB (6)

1. violate or abuse;
- Example: "This writer really fractures the language"

2. interrupt, break, or destroy;
- Example: "fracture the balance of power"

3. break into pieces;
- Example: "The pothole fractured a bolt on the axle"

4. become fractured;
- Example: "The tibia fractured from the blow of the iron pipe"

5. break (a bone);
- Example: "She broke her clavicle"

6. fracture a bone of;
- Example: "I broke my foot while playing hockey"
[syn: fracture, break]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Fracture \Frac"ture\ (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fractured
   (#; 135); p. pr. & vb. n.. Fracturing.] [Cf. F. fracturer.]
   To cause a fracture or fractures in; to break; to burst
   asunder; to crack; to separate the continuous parts of; as,
   to fracture a bone; to fracture the skull.
   [1913 Webster] frenulum


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Fracture \Frac"ture\ (?; 135), n. [L. fractura, fr. frangere,
   fractum, to break: cf. F. fracture. See Fraction.]
   1. The act of breaking or snapping asunder; rupture; breach.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Surg.) The breaking of a bone.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Min.) The texture of a freshly broken surface; as, a
      compact fracture; an even, hackly, or conchoidal fracture.
      [1913 Webster]

   Comminuted fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the bone
      is broken into several parts.

   Complicated fracture (Surg.), a fracture of the bone
      combined with the lesion of some artery, nervous trunk, or
      joint.

   Compound fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which there is an
      open wound from the surface down to the fracture.

   Simple fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the bone only
      is ruptured. It does not communicate with the surface by
      an open wound.

   Syn: Fracture, Rupture.

   Usage: These words denote different kinds of breaking,
          according to the objects to which they are applied.
          Fracture is applied to hard substances; as, the
          fracture of a bone. Rupture is oftener applied to soft
          substances; as, the rupture of a blood vessel. It is
          also used figuratively. "To be an enemy and once to
          have been a friend, does it not embitter the rupture?"
          --South.
          [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

fracture
    n 1: breaking of hard tissue such as bone; "it was a nasty
         fracture"; "the break seems to have been caused by a fall"
         [syn: fracture, break]
    2: (geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the
       displacement of one side with respect to the other; "they
       built it right over a geological fault"; "he studied the
       faulting of the earth's crust" [syn: fault, faulting,
       geological fault, shift, fracture, break]
    3: the act of cracking something [syn: fracture, crack,
       cracking]
    v 1: violate or abuse; "This writer really fractures the
         language"
    2: interrupt, break, or destroy; "fracture the balance of power"
    3: break into pieces; "The pothole fractured a bolt on the axle"
    4: become fractured; "The tibia fractured from the blow of the
       iron pipe"
    5: break (a bone); "She broke her clavicle"
    6: fracture a bone of; "I broke my foot while playing hockey"
       [syn: fracture, break]