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.
Syn. -- 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?" South.
<! p. 592 !>
Frac"ture (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fractured (#; 135); p. pr. &
vb. n.. Fracturing.] [Cf. F. fracturer.] To cause a fracture or
fractures in; to break; to burst asunder; to crack; to separate the
continuous parts of; as, to fracture a bone; to fracture the skull.
||FrÊn"u*lum (?), n.; pl. FrÊnula (#). [NL., dim. of L. fraenum a
||bridle.] (Anat.) A frÊnum.
{ FrÊ"num (?), or Fre"num }, n.; pl. E. FrÊnums (#), L. FrÊna (#). [L.,
a bridle.] (Anat.) A connecting fold of membrane serving to support or
restrain any part; as, the frÊnum of the tongue.
Frag"ile (?), a. [L. fragilis, from frangere to break; cf. F. fragile.
See Break, v. t., and cf. Frail, a.] Easily broken; brittle; frail;
delicate; easily destroyed.
The state of ivy is tough, and not fragile.
Bacon.
Syn. -- Brittle; infirm; weak; frail; frangible; slight.
-- Frag"ile*ly, adv.
Fra*gil"i*ty (?), n. [L. fragilitas: cf. F. fragilitÈ. Cf. Frailty.] 1.
The condition or quality of being fragile; brittleness; frangibility.
Bacon.