fissure
noun
fis·sure
| \ ˈfi-shər
\
\
Definition of fissure
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a narrow opening or crack of considerable length and depth usually occurring from some breaking or parting
a fissure in the earth's crust
2a
: a natural cleft between body parts or in the substance of an organ
b
: a break or slit in tissue usually at the junction of skin and mucous membrane
3
: a separation or disagreement in thought or viewpoint : schism
fissures in a political party
fissure
verb
fissured;
fissuring
Definition of fissure (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms for fissure
Synonyms: Noun
check, chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, rift, split
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Examples of fissure in a Sentence
Noun
a fissure in the Earth's crust a deep fissure in the iceRecent Examples on the Web: Noun
In 2017, Verizon acquired the platform as part of its overall acquisition of Yahoo, and the fissures between Tumblr’s independent, grassroots community and the goals of the telecom site deepened. — Aja Romano, Vox, "WordPress could give Tumblr the thing it needs most: stability," 13 Aug. 2019 Additional fissures are opened up by the wedge of race; another black student (played by the rapper/actor Astro) is not given the same benefit of the doubt as Luce when pot is found in his locker. — Michael O'sullivan, Twin Cities, "‘Luce’ tackles racial privilege and prejudice by raising a million questions — then refuses to answer any of them," 12 Aug. 2019 Officials say there are 12 fissures in Leilani Estates, near the town of Pahoa. — Travis Fedschun, Fox News, "Hawaii-born Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals star, makes plea for help for volcano victims," 8 May 2018 In union, inevitably, there are fissures as well as strength. — Ben Brantley, New York Times, "Review: ‘The Fall’ Delivers Stirring Protest in South Africa," 12 Mar. 2018 And yet, there are cracks in the wall, tiny fissures where hope can have its say. — Linda Dahl, Harper's BAZAAR, "How I (Finally) Learned to Talk to My Drug Addict Daughter," 9 June 2017 The volcano has destroyed more than 700 homes since lava began pouring into residential neighborhoods from fissures in May. The Associated Press contributed to this report. — Travis Fedschun, Fox News, "Hawaii volcano tourists may soon see eruption from safe viewing area on land, official says," 19 July 2018 Lava also is spewing from fissures in the Leilani Estates subdivision, which has been evacuated for three weeks. — BostonGlobe.com, "Hawaii volcano sends another ash cloud high into the air," 25 May 2018 That’s what’s happening at Kilauea; lava is emerging from 14 fissures in the volcano’s East Rift Zone, amid a housing subdivision called Leilani Estates. — Adam Rogers, WIRED, "The Implacable Power of Volcanic Lava," 10 May 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
An early morning alert issued by the U.S. Geological Survey reported sporadic eruptions from three Kilauea volcano fissures shooting lava 180 feet into the air. — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, "Fine, glass tendrils — Pele’s hair — are flying around Big Island after explosive eruption," 11 June 2018 Over the past week, the lava erupting from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano fissures advanced through two small residential subdivisions along Kapoho Bay, reaching the Pacific Ocean, and wiping out nearly a hundred homes. — Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, "Photo Updates From Kilauea: Dozens More Homes Destroyed," 6 June 2018 The trunk was fissured at the base, creating a seam wide enough to slip into—in other words, an absolutely perfect hiding place. — David Gilbert, The New Yorker, "Fungus," 4 June 2017 This is far from the first time that fissures within the Republican party over immigration have been on public display. — Chris Cillizza, CNN, "The biggest political story no one is talking about," 17 May 2018 About 100 million years ago, shifts in tectonic plates caused the region’s foundational limestone to begin to crack and fissure. — Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian, "Descend into the World’s Iciest Gateway to Hell," 30 Aug. 2017 Congressional Republicans return to work Monday after the Memorial Day recess facing enormous pressure to make progress on replacing the Affordable Care Act — a years-long campaign promise — but also fissures within the party about how to do so. — John Fritze, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland advocates resist efforts to target Medicaid in federal funding fights," 3 June 2017 The lodge’s eight-week season begins in June, just as the pack ice that blankets the Northwest Passage begins to fissure and melt. — Ashlea Halpern, WIRED, "Need a Memorial Day to Remember? Ice-Bike the Northwest Passage," 24 May 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fissure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for fissure
fissure
noun
English Language Learners Definition of fissure
: a narrow opening or crack
See the full definition for fissure in the English Language Learners Dictionary
fissure
noun
fis·sure
| \ ˈfi-shər
\
\
Kids Definition of fissure
: a narrow opening or crack
fissure
noun
fis·sure
| \ ˈfish-ər, British also ˈfish-yu̇r
\
\
Medical Definition of fissure
1
: a natural cleft between body parts or in the substance of an organ: as
a
: any of several clefts separating the lobes of the liver
b