freeze fracture

noun

variants or freeze-fracture

ˈfrēz-ˌfrak-chər 

-shər

1

or less commonly freeze-fracturing

ˈfrēz-ˌfrak-chə-riŋ 

-shə-

: preparation of a specimen (as of biological tissue) for electron microscopic examination by rapid freezing, fracturing along natural structural lines, and preparing a replica of the exposed structural details (as by simultaneous vapor deposition of carbon and platinum) compare freeze-etching

2

: the product of or replica prepared by freeze fracture

freeze fractures of bacterial cells

freeze fracture transitive verb

or freeze-fracture

freeze-fracture adjective

or freeze-fractured

ˈfrēz-ˌfrak-chərd 

-shərd

a freeze-fracture micrograph

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

freeze fracture

noun

variants or freeze-fracture also freeze-fracturing

: preparation of a specimen (as of tissue) for electron microscopic examination by freezing, fracturing along natural structural lines, and preparing a replica (as by simultaneous vapor deposition of carbon and platinum)

freeze-fracture transitive verb