fragmenting
|frag-ment-ing|
/ˈfræɡ.mən.tɪŋ/
(fragment)
broken piece
Etymology
'fragment' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'fragmentum', where the root 'frangere' meant 'to break'.
'fragmentum' passed into Old French as 'fragment' and entered Middle English as 'fragment', eventually becoming the modern English word 'fragment'.
Initially, it referred primarily to 'a broken piece' (noun); over time it also developed verbal uses meaning 'to break into pieces' or 'to divide into parts', which is reflected in 'fragmenting'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of breaking into fragments; the state of being broken into parts (used as a gerund or verbal noun).
Fragmenting of the market has led to many niche competitors.
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Verb 1
present participle/gerund of 'fragment': to break or cause to break into pieces or separate parts; to divide or be divided into smaller or disconnected parts.
The research team is fragmenting the dataset into smaller subsets for separate analysis.
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Adjective 1
describing something that is in the process of becoming fragmented or causing fragmentation (less common usage).
The fragmenting industry made it difficult for any single company to dominate.
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Last updated: 2025/09/12 08:25