Trhlina

Trhlina is a noun in Czech and Slovak that denotes a crack, fissure, or gap in a solid material or surface. The word is used for both natural features and human-made structures. It is derived from the verb trhať, meaning to tear or rip, and is closely related to terms for breaks or rifts in related Slavic languages.

In geology, a trhlina refers to a fracture plane in rock where the material has cracked. Such features can form by cooling, dehydration, thermal expansion, or tectonic stresses. When the crust fractures but the sides have not moved, the feature is often called a joint; if there is displacement, it can be described as a fault. Trhliny influence the permeability of rock and can control the movement of fluids and minerals.

In construction and civil engineering, trhlina describes cracks in concrete, masonry, or other building materials. They can arise from shrinkage, loading, temperature changes, or seismic activity. The presence of trhliny may affect structural performance and durability, and repairs range from sealing and injection to replacement, depending on size and significance.

The term is also used figuratively to indicate a gap or division between people, groups, or ideas, as in a social or political trhlina.

In Slovak and Czech usage, trhlina is a common general term for any fissure or crack, with context determining whether it refers to geology, engineering, or metaphorical divisions.