fragmentation
Shattering into pieces
Fragmentation is breaking into pieces or the state of being broken into pieces.
Glass shatters into fragments; a grenade scatters fragmentation.
The word applies to anything that becomes disjointed or scattered: the fragmentation of the empire into warring states, habitat fragmentation threatens wildlife.
In computing, fragmentation occurs when files are stored in noncontiguous blocks across a disk, slowing access.
Broken fragments of brittle material
- splintersThin sharp broken fragments
- piecesParts of something divided
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- shatterFragment violently, suddenly
crumbling · disintegration · rupture · fracture · breakage · particulate · pulverization · smithereens
Shattered into particles
- fractureSplit in hard material
- boneHard skeletal tissue
- compoundCombined into one
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
spiral · greenstick · hairline · avulsion · compression · osteoporosis · healing · splint
State of being isolated
- isolationComplete separation from others
- disconnectionState of being severed
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- atomizationReduction to fine particles
disaffiliation · estrangement · division · tribalism · echo chambers · silos · segregation · stratification
Developing from an outgrowth
- fissionNuclear breakup releasing energy
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
- cloningMaking identical copies
- regenerationBiological self-repair process
asexual · reproduction · colony · polyps · starfish · planaria · rhizomes · stolons
Barrier separating spaces
- secessionFormal withdrawal from union
- balkanizationDivision into hostile units
- disunionState of being divided
- separatismAdvocacy for political breakaway
devolution · breakaway · dissolution · diaspora · division · autonomy · independence · sovereignty
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- neutronsUncharged subatomic particles
chain reaction · isotopes · radioactive · reactor · critical mass · decay · energy · atomic
Small sealed portions
- dataFacts for analysis
- fileStored collection of data
- diskFlat circular object
- sectorsDistinct portions of something larger
clusters · allocation · storage · memory · segmentation · reassembly · headers · payload
Analysis exposing self-contradiction
- postmodernismSkepticism toward universal truths
- nonlinearNot in sequence
- disjointedLacking orderly sequence
- collageAssembled mixed-media artwork
montage · stream of consciousness · pastiche · bricolage · discontinuity · juxtaposition · intertextuality · narrative
Enclosed building passages
- patchesPieces sewn over holes
- edgesOuter limits or boundaries
- isolationComplete separation from others
- biodiversityRange of life forms
deforestation · urbanization · roads · barriers · connectivity · wildlife · ecosystem · conservation
Scattered explosion fragments
- grenadeHandheld thrown explosive
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- casingEnclosing cover or frame
- projectileLaunched airborne object
munitions · warhead · blast · detonation · shell · ordnance · antipersonnel · IED
shards
Broken fragments of brittle material
- splintersThin sharp broken fragments
- piecesParts of something divided
- debrisScattered broken fragments
shatter · crumbling · disintegration · rupture · fracture · breakage · particulate · pulverization · smithereens · chips
comminuted
Shattered into particles
stress · spiral · greenstick · hairline · avulsion · compression · osteoporosis · healing · splint · orthopedic
alienation
State of being isolated
- isolationComplete separation from others
- disconnectionState of being severed
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
atomization · disaffiliation · estrangement · division · tribalism · echo chambers · silos · segregation · stratification · individualism
budding
Developing from an outgrowth
regeneration · asexual · reproduction · colony · polyps · starfish · planaria · rhizomes · stolons · vegetative
partition
Barrier separating spaces
- secessionFormal withdrawal from union
- balkanizationDivision into hostile units
- disunionState of being divided
separatism · devolution · breakaway · dissolution · diaspora · division · autonomy · independence · sovereignty · self-determination
fission
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
neutrons · chain reaction · isotopes · radioactive · reactor · critical mass · decay · energy · atomic · splitting
packets
Small sealed portions
sectors · clusters · allocation · storage · memory · segmentation · reassembly · headers · payload · checksum
deconstruction
Analysis exposing self-contradiction
- postmodernismSkepticism toward universal truths
- nonlinearNot in sequence
- disjointedLacking orderly sequence
collage · montage · stream of consciousness · pastiche · bricolage · discontinuity · juxtaposition · intertextuality · narrative · experimental
corridors
Enclosed building passages
- patchesPieces sewn over holes
- edgesOuter limits or boundaries
- isolationComplete separation from others
biodiversity · deforestation · urbanization · roads · barriers · connectivity · wildlife · ecosystem · conservation · land use
shrapnel
Scattered explosion fragments
projectile · munitions · warhead · blast · detonation · shell · ordnance · antipersonnel · IED · artillery
- decompositiondecomposition, rot, rotting, autolysis, putrefaction
- conservationconservation, wildlife, endangered, habitat, sanctuary
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- poetrypoem, poems, poetry, verse, verses
- damagebreakage, break, crack, fracture, dent
- fragmentsshard, splinter, shards, sliver, chip
fragmentationunification
Merging into one entity
unity · wholeness · consolidation · integration · cohesion
fragmentationassembly
Constructing from components
synthesis · coalescence · aggregation · combination · fusion
fragmentationcoherence
Logical internal consistency
organization · systematization · centralization · concentration · compactness
- fragmentation grenadeExplosive that scatters shrapnel
- fragmentation bombExplosive designed to scatter shrapnel
- habitat fragmentationBreaking continuous environments into isolated patches