I. ˈrəpchə(r), -psh- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English ruptur, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French rupture, from Latin ruptura fracture, break, from ruptus (past participle of rumpere to break) + -ura -ure — more at reave
1.
a. : breach of peace or concord ; specifically : open hostility or war between nations
could not assume the responsibility of a rupture and would support the principle of arbitration — C.L.Jones
b. : a breach of the harmonious relationship between two parties
mother and son avoided an open rupture — George Santayana
2.
a. : the tearing apart by force, disease, or other cause of an organ or structure
the rupture of the heart muscle
the rupture of an intervertebral disk
b.
[Medieval Latin ruptura, from Latin, fracture, break]
: hernia
3. : a break in the earth's surface (as a gorge or ravine)
4. : a breaking apart : separating : the state of being broken apart
the last telegram sent … before the rupture of the wire — W.H.G.Kingston
the rupture of the moral code can break down the power of principle — E.T.Thurston
Synonyms: see breach
II. verb
( ruptured ; ruptured ; rupturing -pchəriŋ, psh(ə)riŋ ; ruptures )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to part by violence : break , burst
her nurse became alarmed and said she would rupture her stitches — Marcia Davenport
b. : to create or induce a breach of
even at the expense of rupturing Arab unity — Denis Healey
2. : to produce a hernia in
intransitive verb
: to have a break or rupture