FRAGMENT


Meaning of FRAGMENT in English

I. ˈfragmənt noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin fragmentum, from frag- (stem of frangere to break) + -mentum -ment — more at break

1. : a part broken off : a small detached portion : an imperfect or incomplete part

pieces of pottery and fragments that can be reconstructed — American Guide Series: New Jersey

enchanting fragments of Irish life — John McNulty

only fragments remain of the covered-wagon ballads — American Guide Series: Oregon

2. : something that is small and usually insignificant

a fragment of silence — Guy Fowler

Synonyms: see part

II. ˈfragˌment,  ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

intransitive verb

: to break into fragments : fragmentize

the vase fell and fragmented into small pieces

this pluralized and fragmenting society — Walter Lippmann

transitive verb

: to break or divide into disorganized or not unified pieces

a foreign policy that is fragmented rather than organized to a focal purpose

an old woman's fragmented memory — Meridel Le Sueur

especially : to destroy by such breaking or dividing up

the remaining hopes of control of weapons have been fragmented by the new bomb — M.W.Straight

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.