3. (Min.)
Defn: 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.
FRACTURE
Frac"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fractured (#; 135); p. pr. & vb. n..
Fracturing.] Etym: [Cf. F. fracturer.]
Defn: 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.
FRAENULUM Fræn"u*lum, n.; pl. Frænula. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. fraenum a bridle.] (Anat.)
Defn: A frænum.
FRAENUM; FRENUM Fræ"num, or; Fre"num, n.; pl. E. Frænums, L. Fræna. Etym: [L., a bridle.] (Anat.)
Defn: A connecting fold of membrane serving to support or restrain any part; as, the frænum of the tongue.
FRAGILE Frag"ile, a. Etym: [L. fragilis, from frangere to break; cf. F. fragile. See Break, v. t., and cf. Frail, a.]