fragment

/ˈfræɡmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfræɡmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrag-mənt/ (ame, mw) · /fræɡˈment/ (bre, ipa) · /fræɡˈment/ (ame, ipa)

fragment — 名詞

  • fragmentsingular
  • fragmentsplural

1. a very small part that has come away from something larger when it is dropped, h

1.名詞B2
釋義

碎片

從較大物體上斷裂下來的小塊

a very small part that has come away from something larger when it is dropped, hit, or broken — for example, a tiny piece of glass on the floor after a window breaks

例句

Yuki picked up a tiny glass fragment from the kitchen floor after dropping a vase.

Yuki 從廚房地板撿起一小片玻璃碎片，那是打翻花瓶時掉落的。

collocation: glass fragment

The archaeologists sifted through layers of soil looking for small bone fragments.

考古學家仔細篩過一層層泥土，尋找細小的骨頭碎片。

collocation: bone fragment

同義詞
  • piece

    broader, neutral term for any part of something; does not imply breakage

  • bit

    even smaller than a piece; less specific about how it became separated

  • splinter

    a long, thin, sharp piece, especially of wood, glass, or metal

  • scrap

    usually for paper, fabric, or metal; implies cutting or tearing rather than shattering

反義詞
  • whole

    the complete object, not separated into parts

  • entirety

    formal term for the whole of something

用法筆記

Common in physical breakage contexts (glass, pottery, bone, rock). Also extends figuratively to incomplete pieces of information, writing, or memory. Unlike 'scrap' (for paper or fabric), 'fragment' usually implies that the original object was hard or brittle.

常見錯誤

❌I found a fragment of paper on the desk.
✅I found a scrap of paper on the desk.
💡'fragment' implies breakage from a hard or brittle object, while 'scrap' is better for paper that was cut or torn.
❌She ate a fragment of the cake.
✅She ate a small piece of the cake.
💡'fragment' suggests breakage or damage; 'piece' is neutral and works for food.

2. a piece that has come off something hard and fragile, like a clay pot, glass bot

2.名詞C1
釋義

碎陶片；破片

從陶器、玻璃等易碎物脫落的碎片

a piece that has come off something hard and fragile, like a clay pot, glass bottle, or ancient object that was once whole

例句

Nila labeled each clay fragment from the excavation with the date and location.

Nila 將遺址出土的每一片陶土碎塊都標上日期和出土地點。

archaeological context: clay fragment from excavation

The museum displayed a Roman glass fragment that was over two thousand years old.

博物館陳列了一片兩千多年前的古羅馬玻璃碎片。

collocation: Roman glass fragment

同義詞
  • shard

    the most common word for a broken piece of glass or pottery; natural in everyday language

  • sherd

    archaeological abbreviation of 'potsherd'; used mainly by specialists

  • potsherd

    a fragment of broken pottery; the most precise formal term in archaeology

反義詞

用法筆記

More specific than sense 1 — applies mainly to brittle materials like ceramic, glass, or bone. Frequently used in archaeology and museum contexts. The synonyms 'shard' (common for glass or pottery) and 'sherd' (archaeological shorthand for potsherd) are more precise alternatives in these fields.

常見錯誤

❌The mirror broke into fragments on the bathroom floor.
✅The mirror shattered on the bathroom floor.' or 'The mirror broke into pieces on the bathroom floor.
💡'fragment' is acceptable here but 'shard' is the more natural word for a piece of broken glass.
❌A fragment of the wooden table broke off.
✅A splinter of the wooden table broke off.
💡'fragment' is best for brittle materials; 'splinter' is the natural word for wood.

fragment — 動詞