fracto-a word element meaning 'broken'.
[combining form representing Latin fractus, past participle]1896 Internat. Cloud-Atlas (Internat. Meteorol. Committee) 18 (heading)International designations of cloud⁓forms... Fr. Cu... Fracto-cumulus.Fr. N... Fracto-nimbus.Fr. S... Fracto-stratus.
1917 A. G. McAdie Princ. Aërography 115The true cumulus..is often torn by strong winds,..(‘fracto-cumulus’).
Ibid. ,If the mass of nimbus is torn up into small patches..they may be called ‘fracto-nimbus’, the ‘scud’ of the sailors.
1926 ― Man & Weather 68The word fracto..is now in general use to designate a cloud form in which the mass is broken into small divisions.
1956 J. C. Swayne Conc. Gloss. Geogr. Terms 62Fracto-nimbus cloud (scud), ragged fragments of cloud drifting rapidly in a strong wind often under rain clouds.
ORIGIN: from Latin fractus broken + -o- .
fracto-
combining form
Etymology: Latin fractus
: broken up and
< fractocumulus >
: fracture
< fractograph >
< fractocumulus >
: fracture
< fractograph >