/ ˈrʌptʃə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun [ C , U ]
1.
( medical ) an injury in which sth inside the body breaks apart or bursts :
the rupture of a blood vessel
2.
a situation when sth breaks or bursts :
ruptures of oil and water pipelines
3.
( informal ) a hernia of the abdomen :
I nearly gave myself a rupture lifting that pile of books.
4.
( formal ) the ending of agreement or of good relations between people, countries, etc. :
a rupture in relations between the two countries
Nothing could heal the rupture with his father.
■ verb
1.
( medical ) to burst or break apart sth inside the body; to be broken or burst apart :
[ vn ]
a ruptured appendix
He ruptured himself (= got a hernia ) trying to lift the piano.
[also v ]
2.
to make sth such as a container or a pipe break or burst; to be broken or burst :
[ vn ]
The impact ruptured both fuel tanks.
[ v ]
A pipe ruptured, leaking water all over the house.
➡ note at explode
3.
[ vn ] to make an agreement or good relations between people or countries end :
the risk of rupturing North-South relations
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (as a noun): from Old French rupture or Latin ruptura , from rumpere to break. The verb dates from the mid 18th cent.