comminute (redirected from comminutes)

com·mi·nute  (km-nt, -nyt)

tr.v. com·mi·nut·ed, com·mi·nut·ing, com·mi·nutes

To reduce to powder; pulverize.

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[Latin comminuere, commint- : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + minuere, to lessen; see mei-² in Indo-European roots.]

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commi·nution n.

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comminute [ˈkɒmɪˌnjuːt]

vb

1. (Medicine) to break (a bone) into several small fragments

2. (Law) to divide (property) into small lots

3. (tr) to pulverize

[from Latin comminuere, from com- (intensive) + minuere to reduce; related to minor]

comminution  n

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

comminute - reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading; "grind the spices in a mortar"; "mash the garlic" bray, mash, crunch, grind pulp - reduce to pulp; "pulp fruit"; "pulp wood" pestle - grind, mash or pulverize in a mortar; "pestle the garlic" mill - grind with a mill; "mill grain" fragment, fragmentise, fragmentize, break up - break or cause to break into pieces; "The plate fragmented"