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Definition of fracture noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    fracture

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//ˈfræktʃər//
     
     
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  1. 1[countable] a break in a bone or other hard material a fracture of the leg/skull a compound/simple fracture (= one in which the broken bone comes/does not come through the skin) Cracks and fractures are appearing in the ancient wall. Topic CollocationsInjuriesbeing injured
    • have a fall/an injury
    • receive/suffer/sustain a serious injury/a hairline fracture/a gunshot wound/a concussion/whiplash injuries
    • hurt/injure your ankle/back/leg
    • damage the brain/an ankle ligament/your liver/the optic nerve/the skin
    • pull/strain/tear a hamstring/ligament/muscle/tendon
    • sprain/twist your ankle/wrist
    • break a bone/your collarbone/your leg/three ribs
    • fracture/crack your skull
    • break/chip/knock out/lose a tooth
    • burst/perforate your eardrum
    • dislocate your finger/hip/jaw/shoulder/elbow
    • bruise/cut/graze your arm/knee/shoulder
    • burn/scald yourself/your tongue
    • bang/bump/hit your elbow/head/knee (on/against something)
    treating injuries
    • treat somebody for burns/a head injury/a stab wound
    • examine/clean/dress/bandage/treat a bullet wound
    • repair a damaged/torn ligament/tendon/cartilage
    • amputate/cut off an arm/a finger/a foot/a leg/a limb
    • put on (formal) apply/take off a Band-Aid™/a sterile dressing/a bandage
    • need/require/put in/get/take out stitches
    • put on/rub on (formal) apply cream/ointment/lotion
    • have/receive/undergo physical therapy
    see greenstick fracture
  2. 2[uncountable] the fact of something breaking, especially a bone Elderly people's bones are more prone to fracture. Research has shown that hormone replacement therapy can reduce the risk of fracture by 50 to 60 percent.
See fracture in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary