fissure
a narrow opening produced by cleavage or separation of parts.
Anatomy. a natural division or groove in an organ, as in the brain.
to make fissures in; cleave; split.
to open in fissures; become split.
Origin of fissure
1Other words from fissure
- fis·su·ral, adjective
- fis·sure·less, adjective
- sub·fis·sure, noun
- su·per·fis·sure, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for fissure
/ (ˈfɪʃə) /
any long narrow cleft or crack, esp in a rock
a weakness or flaw indicating impending disruption or discord: fissures in a decaying empire
anatomy a narrow split or groove that divides an organ such as the brain, lung, or liver into lobes: See also sulcus
a small unnatural crack in the skin or mucous membrane, as between the toes or at the anus
a minute crack in the surface of a tooth, caused by imperfect joining of enamel during development
to crack or split apart
Origin of fissure
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for fissure
[ fĭsh′ər ]
A long, narrow crack or opening in the face of a rock. Fissures are often filled with minerals of a different type from those in the surrounding rock.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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