lõikumises

Lõikumises is an Estonian noun form derived from the verb lõikama (to cut) and the noun lõikamine (cutting). It denotes the state or process of cutting, division, or fragmentation of something into parts. The form lõikumises specifically marks location or state, meaning “in fragmentation” or “in the process of fragmentation.” It is used across academic, technical, and public discourse to describe the breaking apart of wholes into smaller units.

In ecology and environmental planning, lõikumine refers to habitat fragmentation—the division of continuous habitats into smaller, isolated patches, often due to roads, farming, or urban development, with consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. In political science and sociology, the term can describe the fragmentation of political parties, movements, or electorates into subgroups, factions, or regional blocs, affecting coordination and policy platforms. In linguistics, media, and information science, lõikamine denotes cutting or clipping of text, audio, or video for editing, analysis, or processing. In materials science and manufacturing, it can refer to the splitting or breaking of materials during processing or the deliberate segmentation of products.

The word is primarily a technical or formal term and may appear in scholarly articles, policy reports, or descriptive writing. It is closely related to other Estonian terms such as fragmentatsioon (fragmentation), lõikamine (cutting), and eraldamine (separation).