fracture
FRAK-cher
/ˈfræktʃər/
The cracking or breaking of a hard object or material, typically a bone.
In medicine, there is no difference between a 'broken' bone and a 'fractured' bone; they are the same thing.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'frangere,' meaning 'to break.' This root also gives us 'fragile' (easily broken) and 'fragment' (a broken piece).
Word relationships
- break: 'Break' is the common term; 'fracture' is the medical term.
Commonly confused with
- rupture: Fractures happen to hard things (bones); ruptures happen to soft things (organs, tendons).
Word family
- fraction (noun): A small part or item broken off.
Collocations
- stress fracture
- compound fracture
- bone fracture
Example sentences
- "The X-ray showed a hairline fracture of the fibula, which would sideline him for six weeks." A sports news report on a leg injury.
Memory hook
Fracture = Fragment. A fracture turns a bone into fragments (even if they stay together). A break in the bone.
When not to use
Do not use for soft tissue like muscles or skin.
Fun facts
- A 'greenstick' fracture is a type of break where the bone bends and cracks but doesn't break completely, common in children because their bones are softer.
Related words
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