n. /frag"meuhnt/ ; v. /frag"meuhnt, -ment, frag ment"/ , n.
1. a part broken off or detached: scattered fragments of the broken vase.
2. an isolated, unfinished, or incomplete part: She played a fragment of her latest composition.
3. an odd piece, bit, or scrap.
v.i.
4. to collapse or break into fragments; disintegrate: The chair fragmented under his weight.
v.t.
5. to break (something) into pieces or fragments; cause to disintegrate: Outside influences soon fragmented the Mayan culture.
6. to divide into fragments; disunify.
[ 1375-1425; late ME fragmentum a broken piece, remnant, equiv. to frag- (s. of frangere to BREAK) + -mentum -MENT ]
Syn. 1-3. See part .