# fracture

/ˈfɹækʃɝ/ (US) · /fɹˈæktʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fracture
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. broken bone

noun · CEFR B2

a crack or break in a bone.

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

- The X-ray showed a small fracture in her wrist after the fall.
- The surgeon explained that the compound fracture would require internal fixation with titanium plates to ensure proper alignment during the healing process.

### 2. crack in rock

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- Water seeped into the fractures in the cliff, causing the rock to split.
- Geologists monitored the deep fractures in the bedrock, noting that increased pressure from groundwater could trigger minor seismic activity.

### 3. to break

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- The cold weather caused the old pipes to fracture and leak.
- The extreme thermal stress caused the glass casing to fracture, compromising the vacuum seal of the experimental chamber.

### 4. to split a group

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- The political party began to fracture after the leaders disagreed on the new law.
- The coalition began to fracture along ideological lines, making it nearly impossible for the prime minister to pass the proposed budget.

### 5. to make someone laugh

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · American English

to make someone laugh very hard.

For teachers: to amuse someone intensely or cause them to laugh uncontrollably.

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

## Examples

- The doctor confirmed a small fracture in my wrist.
- The earthquake caused a deep fracture in the road that made it impossible for cars to pass.
- While the x-ray showed no complete break, the radiologist identified a hairline fracture that would require several weeks of immobilization to heal properly.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.