défissée

Défissée is a French feminine adjective meaning cracked or fissured, used to describe a surface or material that bears fissures or cracks. It denotes a state rather than a process, emphasizing existing structural breaks.

The term appears mainly in technical or descriptive contexts. In geology and petrology, a défissée surface indicates natural fracturing along planes of weakness. In civil engineering, ceramics, bricks, or coatings, it can describe surfaces that show prior cracking or splitting lines, which may influence strength, durability, or appearance. In art restoration and archaeology, défissée surfaces are noted when patinas, craquelure, or other fissures are visible on paintings, pottery, or sculptures, providing information about age and condition.

Etymology and usage notes: défense, a prefix de-, plus fissure, yields a state-of-being characterized by fissures. The term is relatively specialized and is closely related to the more common fissuré, which describes something that is cracked. Défissée may be preferred when the emphasis is on pre-existing fissures rather than ongoing cracking.

See also: fissure, craquelure (craquelé), fissuración, fissuration.