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fragmentary + noun
fragmentary 常放在名词前作定语，表示某物由零散部分构成。
Archaeologists found only fragmentary pottery at the site.
考古学家在该遗址只发现了零碎的陶器。
零碎的；不完整的；片段的
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
零碎的；不完整的；片段的
consisting of small disconnected parts
Archaeologists found only fragmentary pottery at the site.
考古学家在该遗址只发现了零碎的陶器。
由碎片组成的；零散的
Consisting of fragments; disconnected; scattered.
由小而不连贯的部分组成
consisting of small disconnected parts
由岩石碎屑组成的
Composed of the fragments of other rocks.
Because the signal was weak, we received only fragmentary radio messages from the ship.
由于信号很弱，我们从船上只收到了零散的无线电信息。
AI contextual example
The details she remembered were fragmentary and out of order.
她记得的细节是零散且混乱的。
AI contextual example
Historians have to work with fragmentary records from that period.
历史学家只能依靠那个时期不完整的记录来研究。
AI contextual example
fragmentary remains
残缺不全的遗存
WordNet
fragmentary 常放在名词前作定语，表示某物由零散部分构成。
Archaeologists found only fragmentary pottery at the site.
考古学家在该遗址只发现了零碎的陶器。
作表语时，主语常是信息、证据、记录等抽象名词。
The records of this village remain fragmentary.
这个村庄的记录仍然残缺不全。
at best 强调程度，表示即使往最好处说也不完整。
The historical account is fragmentary at best.
这份历史记述充其量也只是支离破碎的。
Not this
The evidence is fragment.
Use this
The evidence is fragmentary.
fragment 是名词或动词，不能直接作表语形容词；要表示“不完整的、零碎的”，应使用形容词 fragmentary。中文的“碎片”是名词，容易让学生误把名词当形容词用。
Not this
The glass is fragmentary.
Use this
The glass is broken.
fragmentary 表示“由零散部分组成的、不完整的”，多用于抽象事物（如证据、记忆、历史）；描述具体的物品摔碎时，要用 broken。中文里“碎的”可指物理损坏，但英文这两个词不能互换。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
零碎的证据
The investigation relies on fragmentary evidence from witnesses.
调查依赖目击者提供的零碎证据。
残留的碎片；残缺的遗存
Archaeologists found fragmentary remains of a Roman villa.
考古学家发现了一座罗马别墅的残留碎片。
零散的记录
Fragmentary records make it hard to trace the family history.
零散的记录使追溯家族历史变得困难。
零碎的记忆
She has only fragmentary memories of the accident.
她对那场事故只有零碎的记忆。
零散的知识
A little fragmentary knowledge can be worse than none.
一点零散的知识可能比没有更糟。
Use fragmentary naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
fragment（碎片）加上-ary，像打碎的盘子散落一地，记住“碎片般的、不完整的”这个意思。
语域：formal 常见场景：academic writing、literary description、historical accounts 该词多用于正式或书面语境，在学术写作和文学描写中比较常见，日常口语中通常用更普通的词，如 incomplete。
Genuine rhymes: military, momentary, commentary, voluntary (all end in stressed /ˌtɛri/). Beware lookalikes: elementary and salary are spelled with -ary but pronounced /tri/ and /əri/, so they do not rhyme with fragmentary.
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.