fissure

[ fish-er ]
/ ˈfɪʃ ər /

noun

a narrow opening produced by cleavage or separation of parts.
Anatomy. a natural division or groove in an organ, as in the brain.

verb (used with object), fis·sured, fis·sur·ing.

to make fissures in; cleave; split.

verb (used without object), fis·sured, fis·sur·ing.

to open in fissures; become split.

Origin of fissure

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin fissūra cleaving, cleft, fissure, equivalent to fiss(us) divided (see fissi-) + -ūra -ure

OTHER WORDS FROM fissure

fis·su·ral, adjective fis·sure·less, adjective sub·fis·sure, noun su·per·fis·sure, noun

Example sentences from the Web for fissure

British Dictionary definitions for fissure

fissure
/ (ˈfɪʃə) /

noun

any long narrow cleft or crack, esp in a rock
a weakness or flaw indicating impending disruption or discord fissures in a decaying empire
anatomy a narrow split or groove that divides an organ such as the brain, lung, or liver into lobes See also sulcus
a small unnatural crack in the skin or mucous membrane, as between the toes or at the anus
a minute crack in the surface of a tooth, caused by imperfect joining of enamel during development

verb

to crack or split apart

Word Origin for fissure

C14: from medical Latin fissūra, from Latin fissus split

Medical definitions for fissure

fissure
[ fĭshər ]

n.

A deep furrow, cleft, or slit.
A developmental break or fault in the enamel of a tooth.

Scientific definitions for fissure

fissure
[ fĭshər ]

A long, narrow crack or opening in the face of a rock. Fissures are often filled with minerals of a different type from those in the surrounding rock.