Definition

1. Noun:

   • A long, narrow opening or crack: A fissure is a deep, linear split or break in a material, often resulting from stress or natural processes.
   • A groove or cleft in an anatomical structure: In anatomy, a fissure refers to a deep, narrow indentation or groove that separates parts of an organ, such as the brain or liver.

2. Verb:

   • To split or crack open: The action of breaking apart along a line, forming a long, narrow opening.

Examples

• Noun:
  • A deep fissure appeared in the glacier after the earthquake.
  • The surgeon carefully examined the fissure in the patient's liver.
• Verb:
  • The dry earth began to fissure under the intense heat of the sun.

Advanced Usage

• "To be fissured": To be marked by or full of cracks.
  • The ancient, fissured bark of the tree told of its great age.
• In geology: A fissure is a critical feature, such as a source for lava.
  • Lava erupted from a fissure in the volcano's flank.

Variants and Related Words

• Fissured (adj): Having cracks or splits.
  • The clay was dry and fissured.
• Fissuration (n): The process or state of forming fissures.

Synonyms

• Crack: A line on the surface of something along which it has split.
• Cleft: A split or division, especially one caused by splitting.
• Crevasse: A deep open crack, especially in a glacier.

Related Phrases

• Anal fissure (n): A medical condition involving a small tear in the lining of the anus.
  • The patient was treated for a painful anal fissure.
• Fissure vent (n): A linear volcanic vent through which lava erupts.
  • The eruption originated from a fissure vent several kilometers long.

Noun

1. (anatomy) a long narrow slit or groove that divides an organ into lobes
2. a long narrow opening
3. a long narrow depression in a surface

Verb

1. break into fissures or fine cracks