— fracturable , adj. — fractural , adj. — fracturer , n.
/frak"cheuhr/ , n. , v. , fractured, fracturing .
n.
1. the breaking of a bone, cartilage, or the like, or the resulting condition. Cf. comminuted fracture, complete fracture, compound fracture, greenstick fracture, simple fracture .
2. the act of breaking; state of being broken.
3. a break, breach, or split.
4. the characteristic manner of breaking: a material of unpredictable fracture.
5. the characteristic appearance of a broken surface, as of a mineral.
v.t.
6. to cause or to suffer a fracture in (a bone, etc.).
7. to break or crack.
8. Slang. to amuse highly or cause to laugh heartily; delight: The new comic really fractured the audience.
v.i.
9. to become fractured; break: a mineral that does not fracture easily.
[ 1375-1425; late ME fractura a breach, cleft, fracture, equiv. to fract ( us ) (ptp. of frangere to BREAK) + -ura -URE ]
Syn. 7. smash, shatter, splinter, rupture, split.