Comminute

To reduce a solid substance to very small particles, fragments, or powder by crushing, grinding, or breaking it. This process often involves forceful action and results in a significant decrease in the size of the original material. It emphasizes the act of making something minute or finely divided, often rendering it into a form that is easily processed, dispersed, or absorbed. The term is commonly used in medical contexts to describe the crushing of bones and in industrial contexts to describe the pulverization of materials.

Comminute meaning with examples

• During the car accident, the impact was so severe that the victim's femur was comminuted, requiring extensive surgical reconstruction. The orthopedic surgeon carefully reassembled the bone fragments, striving to restore the patient's mobility. Further treatments of physical therapy were needed. This was a very serious event.
• The industrial process involved comminuting the raw ore into a fine powder before smelting. The machines ground the rock down until it was fine. This allowed for greater efficiency and extraction of valuable minerals. The resulting powder was then processed. This step increased the company's profits.
• Before administering the medication, the pharmacist had to comminute the large pill into a fine suspension for easier swallowing by the child. The medicine then was easier to intake. This method was used so that the patient did not choke. This helped the patient greatly.
• Archaeologists carefully comminuted the fragile pottery shards, documenting the size and shape of each fragment to help reconstruct the ancient vessel. Careful recording helped. The painstaking work allows them to learn more about an artifact. These pieces helped understand history.
• The geologist examined the rock sample under a microscope, noting how the natural processes had gradually comminuted the granite over millions of years. This revealed a fine grain structure. Weathering and erosion did the work over time. This helped identify natural forces.