rupture

Universal Words noun, verb noun [C,U] 1 (medical) an injury in which sth inside the body breaks apart or bursts: the rupture of a blood vessel 2 a situation when sth breaks or bursts: ruptures of oil and water pipelines 3 (informal) a HERNIA of the ABDOMEN: I nearly gave myself a rupture lifting that pile of books. 4 (formal) the ending of agreement or of good relations between people, countries, etc: a rupture in relations between the two countries * Nothing could heal the rupture with his father. verb 1 (medical) to burst or break apart sth inside the body; to be broken or burst apart: [VN] a ruptured appendix / spleen / artery * He ruptured himself (= got a HERNIA) trying to lift the piano. [also V] 2 to make sth such as a container or a pipe break or burst; to be broken or burst: [VN] The impact ruptured both fuel tanks. * [V] A pipe ruptured, leaking water all over the house. 3 [VN] (written) to make an agreement or good relations between people or countries end: the risk of rupturing North-South relations