The act of breaking or snapping asunder; rupture; breach.
2.
(Surg.) The breaking of a bone.
3.
(Min.) The texture of a freshly broken surface; as, a compact fracture; an even, hackly, or conchoidal fracture.
Comminuted fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the bone is broken into several parts.
Complicated fracture (Surg.), a fracture of the bone combined with the lesion of some artery, nervous trunk, or joint.
Compound fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which there is an open wound from the surface down to the fracture.
Simple fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the bone only is ruptured. It does not communicate with the surface by an open wound.
Synonyms:Fracture, Rupture. These words denote different kinds of breaking, according to the objects to which they are applied. Fracture is applied to hard substances; as, the fracture of a bone. Rupture is oftener applied to soft substances; as, the rupture of a blood vessel. It is also used figuratively. "To be an enemy and once to have been a friend, does it not embitter the rupture?"
verb
Comminute v. t. (past & past part. comminuted; pres. part. comminuting) To reduce to minute particles, or to a fine powder; to pulverize; to triturate; to grind; as, to comminute chalk or bones; to comminute food with the teeth.
