I. ˈfi-shər noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin fissura, from fissus
Date: 14th century
1. : a narrow opening or crack of considerable length and depth usually occurring from some breaking or parting
2.
a. : a natural cleft between body parts or in the substance of an organ
b. : a break or slit in tissue usually at the junction of skin and mucous membrane
3. : a separation or disagreement in thought or viewpoint : schism
fissure s in a political party
II. verb
( fis·sured ; fis·sur·ing )
Date: 1656
transitive verb
: to break into fissures : cleave
intransitive verb
: crack , divide