comminute

Etymology

verb

1. (transitive) To pulverize; to smash.
   High temperatures required for reaction between components can result in loss of volatile oxides, while milling may not comminute powders sufficiently for complete reaction to occur on calcination. 1991, David Segal, Chemical Synthesis of Advanced Ceramic Materials, page 20
   Collagen may cause shrinkage of comminuted meat products, especially when cooked to high temperatures, or interfere in binding between meat pieces in formed products. 2000, Denise M. Smith, “Chapter Eleven: Functional properties of muscle proteins in processed poultry products”, in Alan R. Sams, editor, Poultry Meat Processing, 2nd edition, page 186
   High pressure directly ahead of and beside the projectile nose comminute and fracture the sand media, forming a rigid, conical false nose on the front of the projectile. 2011, William L. Cooper, “Communication of Stresses by Chains of Grains in High-Speed Particulate Media Impacts”, in Tom Proulx, editor, Dynamic Behavior of Materials, Volume 1: Proceedings of the 2011 Annual Conference on Experimental and Applied Mathematics, page 100
   Such mills are used for comminuting relatively soft materials, such as fruit and vegetable matter. 2012, James G. Brennan, “11: Mixing, Emulsification, and Size Reduction”, in James G. Brennan, Alistair S. Grandison, editors, Food Processing Handbook, 2nd edition, unnumbered page
2. (medicine) To cause fragmentation (of bone).
   For example, comminuting fractures on ribs 4–8 along the rib angle most likely are associated to shots through the scapula, whereas injuries through or near to the costochondral articulation of the first rib could also be associated to wounds of the sternum or clavicle. 2008, Erin H. Kimmerle, Jose Pablo Baraybar, Skeletal Trauma: Identification of Injuries Resulting from Human Rights Abuse and Armed Conflict, page 410
   In the past, there have been controversies over the use of bone graft in comminuted fractures of the forearm. 2011, S. John Ham, Matthijs R. Krijnen, Rudolf W. Poolman, “48: Forearm Fractures, Including Galeazzi Fractures”, in Mohit Bhandari, editor, Evidence-based Orthopedics, page 419
   When using reduction forceps, care must be taken to prevent comminuting the medial epicondylar fragment. 2011, Sean D. Early, Vernon T. Tolo, “9: Pediatric Elbow Fractures”, in Raffy Mirzayan, John M. Itamura, editors, Shoulder and Elbow Trauma, page 127
3. (transitive) To break into smaller portions.

noun

1. Pulverized material.
   The drink contains lemon comminute.
   A method of making a restructured meat product in the form of small pieces from a comminute of raw meat, comprising:[…]. 1975, Hallie B. North, Commercial Food Patents, U.S. 1975, page 166
   Fruit flavour may be added as juice, as a comminute (in the case of citrus fruit) or as an essence.[…]Citrus comminutes are made from the whole fruit, in contrast to juice which is expressed from the pericarp. 1994, A. Varnam, J.M. Sutherland, Beverages: Technology, Chemistry and Microbiology, page 81
   The typical concentrated juices and comminutes used by the industry for manufacturing dilutable drinks are shown in Table 6.3. 2008, P. R. Ashurst, “6: Non-carbonated beverages”, in Philip R. Ashurst, editor, Chemistry and Technology of Soft Drinks and Fruit Juices, page 132