n. The quality or property of being in fragments, or broken pieces; incompleteness; want of continuity. G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. the act or process of separating something into small pieces or fine particles.
n. (Mil.) A type of hand grenade designed to burst into multiple fragments upon detonation of the explosive charge; the fragments fly away at high velocity, killing or wounding persons nearby. Contrasted to