Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Rupture?

\Rup"ture\ (?; 135), n. [L. ruptura, fr. rumpere, ruptum to break: cf. F. rupture. See {Reave}, and cf. {Rout} a defeat.] 1. The act of breaking apart, or separating; the state of being broken asunder; as, the rupture of the skin; the rupture of a vessel or fiber; the rupture of a lutestring. --Arbuthnot. Hatch from the egg, that soon, Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed Their callow young. --Milton. 2. Breach of peace or concord between individuals; open hostility or war between nations; interruption of friendly relations; as, the parties came to a rupture. He knew that policy would disincline Napoleon from a rupture with his family. --E. Everett. 3. (Med.) Hernia. See {Hernia}. 4. A bursting open, as of a steam boiler, in a less sudden manner than by explosion. See {Explosion}. {Modulus of rupture}. (Engin.) See under {Modulus}. Syn: Fracture; breach; break; burst; disruption; dissolution. See {Fracture}.
\Rup"ture\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ruptured}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Rupturing}.] 1. To part by violence; to break; to burst; as, to rupture a blood vessel. 2. To produce a hernia in.
\Rup"ture\, v. i. To suffer a breach or disruption.