rotture

Rotture is the plural form of the Italian noun rottura, which denotes the act of breaking or the state of being broken. It can refer to a fracture or damage to a physical object, or more broadly to a failure, breakdown, or rupture in processes, systems, or events. The term is widely used across technical and everyday language.

In engineering and materials science, rotture describes mechanical failure or fracture of components under stress, fatigue, impact, or corrosion. It is a key concept in fracture mechanics, reliability analysis, and maintenance planning; components may fail through brittle or ductile rotture, and the term helps distinguish damage from wear.

In geology and seismology, rotture is used to describe faulting and the rupture of rocks during earthquakes. Geological ruptures release seismic energy and influence the magnitude and effects of seismic events, including the propagation of fault lines and ground displacement.

In medicine, rottura or rotture denotes rupture or tearing of tissues or organs, such as rottura dell’aorta, rottura uterina, or rupture of membranes. Medical contexts typically specify the organ or tissue involved.

Etymology and usage: rottura is formed from the adjective rotta (broken) with the abstract noun suffix -ura, ultimately deriving from Latin ruptus. In everyday Italian, rottura can also signal a breakdown or inconvenience, as in the sense of an unexpected failure of a device or plan.

See also: rupture, fracture, faulting. While usage varies by field, rotture generally conveys the notion of a break, disruption, or failure.