An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Generally, the process of breaking up into smaller parts. In particular, the splitting
of a large molecular cloud into smaller, denser clumps. → cloud fragmentation.

Etymology (EN): From → fragmenta + -ation, a combination of -ate and -ion, used to form nouns from stems in -ate.

Etymology (PE): Latpâreš, verbal noun from latpâridan, → fragment.