- 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. Wordfinderhurtbandage, bleed, bruise, fracture, hurt, injury, plaster, sore, swell, wound CollocationsInjuriesBeing injured have a fall/an injury receive/suffer/sustain a serious injury/a hairline fracture/(especially British English) whiplash/a gunshot wound 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 bruise/cut/graze your arm/knee/shoulder burn/scald yourself/your tongue bang/bump/hit/ (informal) bash 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 (especially North American English) a Band-Aid™/(British English) a plaster/a bandage need/require/put in/ (especially British English) have (out)/ (North American English) get (out) stitches put on/rub on/ (formal) apply cream/ointment/lotion have/receive/undergo (British English) physiotherapy/(North American English) physical therapy Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivestress, hairline, compound, … verb + fracturesuffer, sustain
- 2[uncountable] the fact of something breaking, especially a bone Old 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 per cent. Word Originlate Middle English: from French, or from Latin fractura, from frangere ‘to break’.Extra examples A security guard suffered a hairline fracture of the skull. Ground movements could cause fracture of the pipe. She sustained two fractures to her leg. a compound/simple fracture
Check pronunciation: fracture
