fragment

[ noun frag-muh nt; verb frag-muh nt, -ment, frag-ment ]
/ noun ˈfræg mənt; verb ˈfræg mənt, -mɛnt, frægˈmɛnt /

noun

a part broken off or detached: scattered fragments of the broken vase.
an isolated, unfinished, or incomplete part: She played a fragment of her latest composition.
an odd piece, bit, or scrap.

verb (used without object)

to collapse or break into fragments; disintegrate: The chair fragmented under his weight.

verb (used with object)

Origin of fragment

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin fragmentum a broken piece, remnant, equivalent to frag- (stem of frangere to break) + -mentum -ment

SYNONYMS FOR fragment

1–3 See part.

Example sentences from the Web for fragment

British Dictionary definitions for fragment

fragment

noun (ˈfræɡmənt)

a piece broken off or detached fragments of rock
an incomplete piece; portion fragments of a novel
a scrap; morsel; bit

verb (fræɡˈmɛnt) Also US: fragmentize (ˈfræɡmənˌtaɪz)

to break or cause to break into fragments

Word Origin for fragment

C15: from Latin fragmentum, from frangere to break

Medical definitions for fragment

fragment
[ frăgmənt ]

n.

A small part broken off or detached.
An incomplete or isolated portion; a bit.

v.

To break or separate into fragments.