rup·ture / ˈrəpchər/ • v. [intr.] (esp. of a pipe, a vessel, or a bodily part such as an organ or membrane) break or burst suddenly: if the main artery ruptures he could die. ∎  [tr.] cause to break or burst suddenly and completely: the impact ruptured both fuel tanks. ∎  [tr.] suffer such a bursting of (a bodily part): it was her first match since rupturing an Achilles tendon. ∎  (be ruptured or rupture oneself) suffer an abdominal hernia: one of the boys was ruptured and needed to be fitted with a truss. ∎  [tr.] fig. breach or disturb (a harmonious feeling or situation): once trust has been ruptured it can be difficult to regain.• n. an instance of breaking or bursting suddenly and completely: a small hairline crack could develop into a rupture | the patient died after rupture of an aneurysm. ∎ fig. a breach of a harmonious relationship: the rupture with his father would never be healed. ∎  an abdominal hernia.

rupture breach XV; abdominal hernia XVI; break XVII. — F. rupture or L. ruptūra, f. pp. stem of rumpere break; see REAVE, -URE.

rupture (rup-cher)
1. n. see hernia.

2. n. the bursting apart or open of an organ or tissue; for example, the splitting of the membranes enclosing an infant during childbirth.

3. vb. (of tissues, etc.) to burst apart or open.

rupture See hernia