fracture

n. [ L. fractura, fr. frangere, fractum, to break: cf. F. fracture. See Fraction. ] 1. The act of breaking or snapping asunder; rupture; breach. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Surg.) The breaking of a bone. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Min.) The texture of a freshly broken surface; as, a compact fracture; an even, hackly, or conchoidal fracture. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]