noun , verb
■ noun
/ ˈfrægmənt; NAmE / a small part of sth that has broken off or comes from sth larger :
Police found fragments of glass near the scene.
The shattered vase lay in fragments on the floor.
I overheard a fragment of their conversation.
■ verb
/ frægˈment/ [ v , vn ] to break or make sth break into small pieces or parts
► frag·men·ta·tion / ˌfrægmenˈteɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
the fragmentation of the country into small independent states
► frag·ment·ed adjective :
a fragmented society
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French , or from Latin fragmentum , from frangere to break.