comminution

English

WOTD – 10 May 2018

Etymology

From Latin comminūtiō (“breaking into pieces, crumbling, shattering; crushing, pulverizing”), from Latin comminuō (“to break or crumble into small pieces; to crush, pulverize”) (from com- (“prefix indicating completeness”) + minuō (“to make smaller; to diminish, lessen”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mey- (“little, small”)) + Latin -tiō (“suffix forming a noun relating to some action or the result of an action”); equivalent to comminute +‎ -ion.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌkɒmɪˈnjuːʃ(ə)n/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌkɑməˈn(j)uʃən/
• Hyphenation: com‧mi‧nu‧tion

Noun

comminution (countable and uncountable, plural comminutions)

1. (often mining, waste management) The breaking or grinding up of a material to form smaller particles.
   • 1978, J. P. La Fage; W. L. Nutting, “Nutrient Dynamics of Termites”, in M. V. Brian, editor, Production Ecology of Ants and Termites (International Biological Programme; 13), Cambridge; New York, N.Y.: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-21519-0, page 165:

     Termites are herbivores and detritivores variously involved in the comminution and decomposition of vegetable matter, through most of the warm temperate and tropical zones.

2. (traumatology) The fracture of a bone site in multiple pieces (technically, at least three); crumbling.

Usage notes

In traumatology, comminution is to be distinguished from a compound or open fracture, though fractures which are both comminuted and compound do occur.

Synonyms

• (breaking or grinding up of a material): crushing, pulverization

Related terms

• comminute
• comminuted (adjective)
• comminutor
• minute

Further reading

• comminution on Wikipedia.Wikipedia