n. & v.
--n.
1. a breakage or breaking, esp. of a bone or cartilage. b the result of breaking; a crack or split.
2 the surface appearance of a freshly broken rock or mineral.
3 Linguistics a the substitution of a diphthong for a simple vowel owing to an influence esp. of a following consonant. b a diphthong substituted in this way.
--v.intr. & tr.
1. Med. undergo or cause to undergo a fracture.
2 break or cause to break.
Etymology: ME f. F fracture or f. L fractura (as FRACTION)