1. A Piece or Part: This is the most basic meaning. A fragment is a small, incomplete part of something larger. For example:
* "He found a fragment of pottery in the ruins."
* "She only read a fragment of the book before she had to leave."
2. In Literature: In writing, a fragment is a sentence that lacks a subject or a verb, or both. It's grammatically incomplete and often used for emphasis or a particular effect.
* "Walking down the street." (This lacks a subject and a verb)
* "So beautiful." (This lacks a verb)
3. In Computer Science: In programming, a "code fragment" refers to a small, self-contained section of code that can be reused in different parts of a program.
4. In Archaeology: A "fragment" in archaeology is a broken piece of an artifact, like a piece of pottery or a sculpture.
5. In Music: A "musical fragment" is a short, incomplete section of a melody or a piece of music.
6. In Geology: A "rock fragment" is a small piece of rock that has broken off from a larger piece.
7. In General Use: "Fragment" can also be used more generally to describe something that is incomplete or broken.
To understand the meaning of "fragment" in a specific context, you need to consider the surrounding words and the overall meaning of the text.