Definition of FRAGMENT
FRAGMENT Noun and Verb
Fragment serves as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it describes a small, incomplete portion or piece of something larger, implying a sense of incompleteness or discontinuity. As a verb, it describes the action of breaking or dividing something into fragments.
FRAGMENT as a noun
As a Noun: As a noun, fragment refers to a broken or detached piece of something larger, such as an object, structure, or idea. It can describe physical fragments, such as broken shards of glass or fragments of a demolished building. Additionally, fragment can denote abstract or conceptual fragments, such as fragments of information, memories, or stories.
FRAGMENT as a verb
As a verb, fragment describes the action of breaking or dividing something into fragments. For example, a glass window may fragment into pieces when struck by a heavy object, or a society may fragment into smaller factions due to political or social tensions. In this sense, the verb form emphasizes the process of fragmentation, where larger wholes are broken down into smaller, disconnected parts.
Visual and Literary Representation: In visual arts and literature, fragments are often used for creative effect, conveying a sense of mystery, ambiguity, or incompleteness. Artists and writers may intentionally fragment their work to evoke emotions, provoke thought, or engage the audience’s imagination. For example, a fragmented narrative structure in literature or film can create suspense and intrigue, inviting the audience to piece together the story’s underlying meaning.
Historical and Archaeological Significance: In historical and archaeological contexts, fragments play a crucial role in reconstructing the past. Archaeologists unearth fragments of ancient artifacts, pottery, and structures, using them to piece together insights into past civilizations and cultures. Similarly, historians may analyze fragments of historical documents, texts, or artifacts to glean information about events, societies, and individuals from the past.
Intellectual and Psychological Implications: The concept of fragmentation extends beyond physical objects to encompass intellectual, emotional, and psychological fragments. Individuals may experience fragmentation in their thoughts, memories, or identities, leading to feelings of disconnection, confusion, or existential angst. Psychoanalytic theories, such as those proposed by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, explore the notion of psychological fragments and their impact on human behavior and consciousness.
In conclusion, fragment as both a noun and a verb describes the process and result of breaking or dividing something into smaller, disconnected parts. Whether used to describe physical objects, abstract concepts, or creative works, fragments convey a sense of incompleteness, ambiguity, or discontinuity, inviting interpretation and exploration of their underlying significance.
Examples of FRAGMENT in a sentence
FRAGMENT as a noun in a sentence
- The archaeologist carefully excavated each fragment of pottery, piecing together clues about ancient civilizations.
- She found a torn fragment of a letter in the attic, hinting at secrets from the past.
- The shattered vase lay in pieces, each fragment reflecting the beauty it once held.
- The detective collected fragments of evidence from the crime scene to reconstruct what happened.
- The historian discovered a fragment of a lost manuscript hidden in an old library archive.
- The artist arranged fragments of colored glass to create a stunning mosaic.
- The explosion sent fragments of debris flying in all directions, causing damage to nearby buildings.
- In literature, a fragment can be a standalone piece of writing or an incomplete part of a larger work.
FRAGMENT as a verb in a sentence
- The earthquake caused the ancient statue to fragment into pieces, leaving it irreparably damaged.
- Over time, the rock face began to fragment, creating loose debris that posed a danger to climbers.
- The force of the impact caused the car’s windshield to fragment into tiny shards of glass.
- The bomb blast fragmented the building, scattering debris over a wide area.
- Extreme temperatures can cause rocks to fragment, leading to rockfalls in mountainous areas.
- The artist deliberately fragmented the image to create a sense of disarray and chaos in the painting.
- The explosion fragmented the once-unified community into opposing factions, each with its own agenda.
- The committee’s inability to reach a consensus caused the proposal to fragment into competing versions.
Etymology of FRAGMENT
The term fragment has an etymological journey rooted in ancient languages and cultural evolution.
- Latin Origins: The word “fragment” traces its roots back to the Latin word “fragmentum,” which referred to a broken piece or fragment. In Latin, “fragmentum” was derived from the verb “frangere,” meaning “to break” or “to shatter.”
- Old French Influence: During the medieval period, Old French borrowed the Latin term “fragmentum,” retaining its meaning of a broken or shattered piece. In Old French, it became “fragment,” maintaining its association with something incomplete or disjointed.
- Middle English Adoption: As Old French influenced Middle English vocabulary, the term “fragment” entered the English language with a similar meaning of a small, incomplete part or piece of something larger. It became commonly used in literary and philosophical contexts to denote a portion of a whole.
- Modern Usage: In modern usage, “fragment” refers to a small part or portion of something larger, often implying incompleteness or separation from the whole. It is widely used in various fields, including literature, art, science, and technology, to describe broken or disconnected elements.
- Cultural Interpretations: Beyond its linguistic origins, the concept of fragmentation holds broader cultural significance, reflecting the human experience of impermanence, loss, and the passage of time. In literature and art, fragments may evoke themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of existence.
Through its evolution from Latin to Old French and its adoption into Middle English, the term fragment has come to symbolize the inherent nature of human experience and the complexity of the world around us, resonating across cultures and disciplines.
Synonyms
- Piece
- Shard
- Particle
- Portion
- Segment
- Section
- Bit
- Remnant
Antonyms
- Whole
- Entirety
- Totality
- Unity
- Completion
- Entire
- Fullness
- Solidity
Related
- Shattered
- Broken
- Scraps
- Debris
- Shattered
- Shards
- Fractured
- Segment
🌐 🇬🇧 FRAGMENT in other languages
Spanish 🇪🇸 | Fragmento |
French 🇫🇷 | Fragment |
German 🇩🇪 | Fragment |
Chinese (simpl) 🇨🇳 | 分段 |
Chinese (trad) 🇨🇳 | 分段 |
Italian 🇮🇹 | Frammento |
Portuguese 🇵🇹 | Fragmento |
Dutch 🇳🇱 | Fragment |
Swedish 🇸🇪 | Fragment |
Norwegian 🇳🇴 | Fragment |
Finnish 🇫🇮 | Kappale |
Romanian 🇷🇴 | Fragment |
Polish 🇵🇱 | Fragment |
Hungarian 🇭🇺 | Töredék |
Czech 🇨🇿 | Fragment |
Bulgarian 🇧🇬 | Фрагмент |
Ukrainian 🇺🇦 | Фрагмент |
Russian 🇷🇺 | Фрагмент |
Turkish 🇹🇷 | Parça |
Azerbaijani 🇦🇿 | Fraqment |
Armenian 🇦🇲 | Հատված |
Arabic 🇸🇦 | شظية |
Hebrew 🇮🇱 | רסיס |
Urdu 🇵🇰 | ٹکڑا |
Farsi/Persian 🇮🇷 | قطعه |
Hindi 🇮🇳 | टुकड़ा |
Bengaleli/se 🇧🇩 | টুকরা |
Marathi 🇮🇳 | तुकडा |
Telugu 🇮🇳 | ఫ్రాగ్మెంట్ |
Tamil 🇮🇳 | துண்டு |
Gujarati 🇮🇳 | ટુકડો |
Kannada 🇮🇳 | ತುಣುಕು |
Odia (Orya) 🇮🇳 | ଖଣ୍ଡ |
Malayalam 🇮🇳 | ശകലം |
Punjabi 🇮🇳 | ਟੁਕੜਾ |
Sinhala/ese 🇱🇰 | ඛණ්ඩනය |
Nepali 🇳🇵 | टुक्रा |
Burmese 🇲🇲 | တစ်ပိုင်းတစ်စ |
Thai 🇹🇭 | แฟรกเมนต์ |
Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | Miếng |
Malay 🇲🇾 | Serpihan |
Indonesian 🇮🇩 | Pecahan |
Tagalog 🇵🇭 | Fragment |
Japanese 🇯🇵 | 断片 |
Korean 🇰🇷 | 파편 |
Oromo 🇪🇹 | Ciccitaa |
Somali 🇸🇴 | Jajab |
Amharic 🇪🇹 | ቁርጥራጭ |
Swahili 🇹🇿 | Kipande |
Yoruba 🇳🇬 | Ajeku |