fracture
noun
What fracture means
A break or crack in a bone.
The X-ray showed a small fracture in his wrist.
She suffered a hip fracture.
Test yourself
Five questions about fracture
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Question 1 of 5Meaning
What does fracture mean?
A fracture is when a bone breaks or cracks, for example after a bad fall. It is the medical word for a broken bone.
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Question 2 of 5Situation
Lisa fell off her bike, and the X-ray shows a thin crack in her wrist bone. The doctor calls it a…
A crack or break in a bone is a fracture. A sprain hurts a joint without breaking it, a bruise is a dark mark on the skin, and a cramp is in a muscle.
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Question 3 of 5Gap
The skier was taken to hospital with a ___ in her leg, and she spent six weeks in plaster.
A leg goes into plaster for weeks when the bone is broken, and a broken bone is a fracture. A bruise, a rash or a cramp would never need plaster.
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Question 4 of 5Similar word
Which phrase is closest in meaning to fracture?
A fracture is a break or crack in a bone, so broken bone is the everyday phrase with the same meaning. The other phrases describe damage to muscles or skin, not bones.
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Question 5 of 5Correct use
Which sentence uses fracture correctly?
You suffer or have a fracture; you do not make one. After a you need the noun fracture, not fractured, and the past of the verb is fractured, with -d.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer, Enter goes on.
Fracture in a sentence
5 more examples of fracture in everyday situations.
- At the hospital
The doctor says it’s a hairline fracture, so I need a cast for six weeks.
- Sports news
The striker will miss the rest of the season with a fractured ankle.
- As a verb
She fractured her wrist when she slipped on the ice.
- Health advice
Weak bones make older adults more likely to suffer fractures after a fall.
- A message
Good news: no fracture, just a bad bruise. We’ll be home soon.
How to use fracture
Fracture is the medical word. In everyday talk people say a broken bone. Fractures vary: a hairline fracture is a very thin crack.
The verb is fracture: “He fractured his arm.”
Forms
- fracturesplural; he, she, it
- fractureverb
- fracturedpast; adjective
- fracturing-ing form
Patterns
- a fracture of the + body part
- fracture your arm / leg / wrist
- suffer a fracture
- a hairline / stress fracture
Common mistakes with fracture
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NotThe doctor said I have a fractured in my wrist.
SayThe doctor said I have a fracture in my wrist. / The doctor said my wrist is fractured.
Fracture is the noun after a; fractured is the adjective, as in my wrist is fractured.
Fracture or break or sprain?
- fracture or break
- Break is the everyday word: “I broke my arm.” Fracture is the medical word, and doctors use it for any crack or break in a bone, even a very small one.
- fracture or sprain
- A sprain is damage to the soft parts around a joint, such as an ankle, after a twist; a fracture is a crack or break in the bone itself.
Fracture is a C1 word. Is that your level? Take the level test or count the words you know.
Fracture word family and collocations
The words that go with fracture, so you can use it in a whole phrase.
Common collocations
- a hairline fracture
- a fracture in
- suffer a fracture
- a wrist fracture
- fractured bone
Word family
- fracture (noun, verb)
- fractured (adjective)
Similar words
- broken bone
Questions about fracture
Is a fracture the same as a break?
Yes. In medical language a fracture is any break in a bone, from a tiny crack to a bone broken in two. In everyday speech most people simply say broken.
What is a hairline fracture?
A hairline fracture is a very thin crack in a bone. It can be hard to see on an X-ray, and it often heals with rest and support.
Is fracture a verb?
Yes. You can fracture a bone, as in “He fractured his leg skiing.” The past tense is fractured, and fractured is also used as an adjective: a fractured rib.
Yesterday’s word
Do you still remember settings?
One question about the word from 17 October. Remembering a word a day later helps it stay.
One question
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What does settings mean?
Settings are the choices inside a phone, app or computer, such as the language, the sound or the brightness, that you can change to make it work your way.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer.
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Treatment for a physical or mental problem, often involving regular sessions with a trained professional. -
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