rupture
RUP-cher
/ˈrʌptʃər/
An instance of breaking or bursting suddenly and completely.
A rupture is more severe than a tear; it implies a complete separation or bursting of a tissue.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'rumpere,' meaning 'to break' or 'to burst.' It’s the same root that gives us 'bankrupt' (a broken bank) and 'interrupt' (to break into).
Word relationships
- burst: Burst is common; rupture is medical and implies a structural failure.
Commonly confused with
- fracture: Fracture is for bones; rupture is for soft tissue or organs.
Word family
- disrupt (verb): To break apart or interrupt.
- erupt (verb): To break out.
Collocations
- tendon rupture
- appendix rupture
- complete rupture
Example sentences
- "The rupture of his Achilles tendon effectively ended his professional season." Reporting on a major injury to a star player.
Memory hook
Rupture = Erupt. Like a volcano erupting, a rupture is a sudden, violent break. A sudden, total break.
When not to use
Do not use for a simple crack in a bone (that's a fracture).
Fun facts
- The term 'hernia' is often used interchangeably with 'rupture' in older medical texts.
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