I. ˈfrak-chər, -shər noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin fractura, from fractus
Date: 15th century
1. : the result of fracturing : break
2.
a. : the act or process of breaking or the state of being broken ; especially : the breaking of hard tissue (as bone)
b. : the rupture (as by tearing) of soft tissue
kidney fracture
3. : the general appearance of a freshly broken surface of a mineral
II. verb
( frac·tured ; frac·tur·ing -chə-riŋ, -shriŋ)
Date: 1612
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause a fracture in : break
fracture a rib
b. : rupture , tear
2.
a. : to damage or destroy as if by rupturing
b. : to cause great disorder in
c. : to break up : fractionate
d. : to go beyond the limits of (as rules) : violate
fractured the English language with malaprops — Goodman Ace
intransitive verb
: to undergo fracture