fragment

UK: noun: /ˈfrægmənt/, verb: /frægˈmɛnt/

US: /n. ˈfrægmənt; v. ˈfrægmɛnt, frægˈmɛnt/

US: (n. frag′mənt; v. frag′mənt, -ment, frag ment′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

frag•ment /n. ˈfrægmənt; v. ˈfrægmɛnt, frægˈmɛnt/   n. [countable]

1. a part broken off or detached:
   fragments of shattered glass.
2. an unfinished or isolated part:
   He had written the book in fragments and now had to pull it together.

v. 

3. to (cause to) collapse or break into pieces or fragments;
   disintegrate: [no object]
   The parchment is likely to fragment if you touch it.
   [~ + object]
   Outside influences fragmented that culture.
4. to divide into fragments:
   [~ + object] The tactic was to fragment the opposition and have them fight among themselves.

frag•men•ta•tion /ˌfrægmənˈteɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -frac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

frag•ment  (n. frag′mənt;v. frag′mənt, -ment, frag ment′), n. 

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

v.i. 

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

v.t. 

5. to break (something) into pieces or fragments;
   cause to disintegrate:
   Outside influences soon fragmented the Mayan culture.
6. to divide into fragments;
   disunify.

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

Synonyms

• 1. –3. See part. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fragment noun / ˈfræɡmənt/

1. a piece broken off or detached
2. an incomplete piece; portion: fragments of a novel
3. a scrap; morsel; bit

verb / fræɡˈmɛnt/

1. to break or cause to break into fragments

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin fragmentum, from frangere to break