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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Fracture: Definition, Usage, and Key Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：break in a bone (fracture)

fracture 🔊

/ˈfræktʃə(r)/

n./v.

When a bone in your body breaks or cracks.

Fracture illustration: X-ray showing a clean break in a human hand bone.

break in a bone 🔊

➕

/breɪk ɪn ə bəʊn/

n./v.

A break or crack in a bone, typically caused by injury.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'fractura', meaning 'a breaking', from 'frangere' (to break). The root 'fract-' means 'break'.

💡 Mnemonic

Sounds like 'fraction' (a part of a whole). A fracture breaks a whole bone into fractional parts.

📖 Example

After his fall on the ski slopes, an X-ray confirmed he had a fracture in his wrist. 🔊 After his fall on the ski slopes, an X-ray confirmed he had a break in his wrist.

🔗 Collocations

compound fracture – a severe break where the bone pierces the skin

hairline fracture – a very thin, minor crack in a bone

to fracture a bone – to cause a bone to break

🔄 Synonyms

break (n./v.) – A general term for a bone being cracked or separated into pieces.

crack (n./v.) – A partial fracture; a thin line where the bone is damaged but not completely separated.

🚫 Antonyms

fusion (n.) – The process of bones healing and joining together after a break.

union (n.) – The state of bones being solidly healed post-fracture.

🌱 Derivatives

fractured (adj.) – Describing something that is broken or cracked, especially a bone.

📖 Cultural Story

The term originates from Latin 'fractura' (a breach, break), widely used in medicine and geology for centuries. It entered English in the late 15th century. Its specific use for broken bones in medical contexts solidified its modern primary meaning.

Meaning 2：crack or break in a hard material (fracture)

fracture 🔊

/ˈfræktʃə(r)/

n./v.

When something hard like glass or rock breaks or develops a crack.

Fracture example: detailed macro photo of a cracked car windshield.

crack or break in a hard material 🔊

➕

/kræk ɔː breɪk ɪn ə hɑːd məˈtɪərɪəl/

n./v.

A crack, split, or break in a hard, brittle substance like glass, rock, or metal.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

A small stone hit the car's windshield, causing a dangerous fracture that spread across the glass. 🔊 A small stone hit the car's windshield, causing a dangerous crack that spread across the glass.

🔗 Collocations

stress fracture – a small crack in a material caused by repeated stress

fracture line – the visible line or pattern of a crack

to fracture under pressure – to crack or break when subjected to force

🔄 Synonyms

crack (n./v.) – A line on the surface of something where it has broken but not split apart.

fissure (n.) – A long, narrow opening or line of breakage, often in rock or earth.

split (n./v.) – A division caused by something breaking, especially lengthwise.

🚫 Antonyms

wholeness (n.) – The state of being unbroken and intact.

integrity (n.) – The condition of being whole, sound, and undamaged.

🌱 Derivatives

fracturable (adj.) – Capable of being broken or cracked.