[L. ruptus, rumpo, to break.]

1. The act of breaking or bursting; the state of being broken or violently parted; as the rupture of the skin; the rupture of a vessel or fiber.

2. Hernia; a preternatural protrusion of the contents of the abdomen.

3. Breach of peace or concord, either between individuals or nations; between nations, open hostility or war. We say, the parties or nations have come to an open rupture.

He knew that policy would disincline Napoleon from a rupture with his family.