What does "fracture" mean?

1. (broken bone) a crack or break in a bone. 2. (crack in rock) a crack or split in a rock or the earth's surface. 3. (to break) to break or crack, or to cause something to break. 4. (to split a group) to divide a group of people into smaller, often angry, parts. 5. (to make someone laugh) to make someone laugh very hard.

How do you use "fracture"?

Usually takes a direct object representing the person or group laughing.

fracture

n. · v.

US //ˈfɹækʃɝ// UK //fɹˈæktʃɐ// frac·ture

1 broken bone (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

a crack or break in a bone.

a medical condition in which there is a partial or complete break in the continuity of a bone.

Example

The X-ray showed a small fracture in her wrist after the fall.

Example

The surgeon explained that the compound fracture would require internal fixation with titanium plates to ensure proper alignment during the healing process.
- break
- crack
2 crack in rock (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Science

a crack or split in a rock or the earth's surface.

any separation in a geologic formation, such as a joint or a fault, that divides the rock into two or more pieces.

Example

Water seeped into the fractures in the cliff, causing the rock to split.

Example

Geologists monitored the deep fractures in the bedrock, noting that increased pressure from groundwater could trigger minor seismic activity.

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3 to break (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to break or crack, or to cause something to break.

to undergo or cause a break or crack in a hard object or material.

Example

The cold weather caused the old pipes to fracture and leak.

Example

The extreme thermal stress caused the glass casing to fracture, compromising the vacuum seal of the experimental chamber.
- mend
- join
4 to split a group (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to divide a group of people into smaller, often angry, parts.

to cause a group, organisation, or society to split into fragments or disagreeing factions.

Example

The political party began to fracture after the leaders disagreed on the new law.

Example

The coalition began to fracture along ideological lines, making it nearly impossible for the prime minister to pass the proposed budget.
- unify
- unite
5 to make someone laugh (v.)
C2 Proficiency Slang American English

to make someone laugh very hard.

to amuse someone intensely or cause them to laugh uncontrollably.

Example

That comedian's jokes about his cat really fractured the audience.

Example

His deadpan delivery of such absurd anecdotes never failed to fracture the room, even among the most cynical critics.

Usage

Usually takes a direct object representing the person or group laughing.
- crack up
- slay

Origin

From Middle English fracture, from Old French fracture, from Latin frāctūra (“a breach, fracture, cleft”), from frangere (“to break”), past participle frāctus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreg-, whence also English break. See fraction. Doublet of fraktur.