comminution

noun

1. (countable, often, uncountable)The breaking or grinding up of a material to form smaller particles.

   “He deſcribes in a Mechanical way the manner of its Action; ſuppoſing that ſome of its Particles having undergone ſeveral Comminutions (tho not a Diſſolution) from the various Firments they have paſſed, arrive at laſt, with the Blood, at the Brain; […] thoſe of them, which are not ſmall enough to paſs thoſe Straits along with the Juice, being juſt admitted, ſtick there till other appelling Subſtances give them a farther Comminution, and ſo pretrude them along: […]”

   “[W]hen a proportionable piece [of an aliment (food item)] is thus taken into the Mouth, the lower Jaw is variouſly mov'd by its proper Muſcles, and Maſtication is begun and carryed on by the Aſſiſtance of the Tongue, Cheeks, and Lips; the two firſt ſtill applying the leſs divided parts of the Aliment, to the Dentes Molares [molar teeth], till there's an equal Comminution of all its Parts; […]”

   “It's [the mouth's] hooked Form is of great Uſe to the rapacious Kind [of bird], in catching and holding their Prey, and in the Comminution thereof by tearing; to others it is no less ſerviceable to their climbing, as well as neat and nice Comminution of their Food.”

   “[B]y what process, we would ask, could these sands have been sifted and separated agreeable to their grades, as they are now found? What circumstances could have effected such comminutions, such separations, such transpositions, and transportations of the several kinds, having all the same origin?”

   “What circumstances determine the degree of comminution to which a substance should be subjected preparatory to future extraction?”

2. (countable, uncountable)The fracture of a bone site in multiple pieces (technically, at least three); crumbling.

   “Comminution of the shaft of one or of both bones of the fore-arm does not of itself indicate operative interference, other complications may necessitate primary or secondary amputation.”

   “Wrist fractures encountered in natural disasters most frequently belong to the more complicated types, viz. III, IV and VIII. Importantly, comminutions are common. When both radius and ulnar^([sic – meaning ulna]) are involved with comminutions, joint surface involvements are often combined with soft tissue injuries.”