comminute: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very Rare / TechnicalFormal, Technical, Scientific, Medical
Quick answer
What does “comminute” mean?
To reduce a solid substance to fine particles or powder by crushing, grinding, or pulverizing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To reduce a solid substance to fine particles or powder by crushing, grinding, or pulverizing.
In medical/surgical contexts, it can refer to the process of breaking a bone into multiple small fragments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in technical contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Identically technical and precise in both dialects.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general language in both the UK and US. Its use is confined to specific technical fields like pharmaceuticals, geology, metallurgy, and medicine.
Grammar
How to Use “comminute” in a Sentence
[Verb] + [Direct Object] (e.g., comminute the coal)[Passive] + [Adverb] (e.g., the material was finely comminuted)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “comminute” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The industrial mill is designed to comminute limestone for agricultural use.
- The pharmacist must comminute the active ingredient before formulating the tablet.
American English
- This machine will comminute the plastic pellets into a fine powder for molding.
- The geologist needed to comminute the rock sample for spectrometer analysis.
adverb
British English
- The material was ground comminutely to pass through the sieve. (Grammatical but highly unusual)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form is in common use.)
adjective
British English
- The surgeon documented a severely comminuted fracture of the femur.
- The final product was a comminuted mixture of various minerals.
American English
- The x-ray revealed a comminuted fracture that required extensive surgery.
- Comminuted waste material is often easier to transport and recycle.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in manufacturing or mining reports describing raw material processing.
Academic
Used in scientific papers (e.g., chemistry, pharmacology, materials science) to describe sample preparation.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Primary domain. Common in pharmaceuticals (powder production), geology, mining, food science, and orthopaedic medicine ('comminuted fracture').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “comminute”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “comminute”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “comminute”
- Using it in non-technical contexts.
- Confusing it with 'commute' or 'commentate'.
- Incorrect pronunciation stress (e.g., /kəˈmɪnjuːt/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare, technical term used almost exclusively in scientific, industrial, and medical contexts. An average native speaker is unlikely to know it.
'Comminute' is a more precise and technical term implying reduction to very fine, often powder-like particles through a systematic process. 'Crush' is a general, everyday word that can mean to deform or break something with pressure, not necessarily into powder.
A medical term for a bone break where the bone is shattered into three or more pieces. It is a severe type of fracture often caused by high-impact trauma.
Extremely rarely. Its usage is almost always literal and physical. A figurative use (e.g., 'comminute an argument') would be highly unconventional and confusing.
To reduce a solid substance to fine particles or powder by crushing, grinding, or pulverizing.
Comminute is usually formal, technical, scientific, medical in register.
Comminute: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒmɪnjuːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːmənuːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Comminuted fracture (a specific medical term for a bone shattered into many pieces)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COMMIttee of tiny particles (MINUTE) - their job is to COMMINUTE a big rock into their own minute size.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRANSFORMATION IS REDUCTION TO PARTS. The whole is conceptually broken down into its fundamental, granular components.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'comminute' MOST likely to be used?