early 15c., "a breaking of a bone," from Middle French fracture (14c.), from Latin fractura "a breach, break, cleft," from fractus, past participle of frangere "to break" (from PIE root *bhreg- "to break"). As "a broken surface" from 1794.
fracture (v.)
"cause a fracture in" (transitive), 1610s (implied in fractured), from fracture (n.). Intransitive meaning "become fractured" is from 1830. Related: Fracturing.
This writer really fractures the language
fracture the balance of power
The pothole fractured a bolt on the axle
The tibia fractured from the blow of the iron pipe
it was a nasty fracture
fracking
fractal
fraction
fractional
fractious
fracture
frag
fragile
fragility
fragment
fragmentary
