fragment

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frag·ment • n. / ˈfragmənt/ a small part broken or separated off something: small fragments of pottery, glass, and tiles. ∎  an isolated or incomplete part of something: Nathan remembered fragments of that conversation.• v. / ˈfragˌment/ break or cause to break into fragments: [intr.] his followers fragmented into sects. DERIVATIVES: frag·men·tal / fragˈmentl/ adj. ( chiefly Geol. ).