Over the last thousand years, there have been four major ruptures along the Alpine Fault causing earthquakes of about magnitude 8.

If you impede it, there is a high risk of a major rupture later.

The frequency of a major rupture in the Puente Hills Fault is on the order of once per several thousand years.

However, a major rupture along the Garlock would probably be felt in most of the southern part of California.

But a major significant rupture - definitely not.

He seemed to have suffered a major rupture of his organs.

His political militancy created tensions which led to a major rupture of the France-Observateur team in 1963, and his subsequent departure from the newspaper.

No major hull ruptures discovered yet, but sensors have taken a.beating.

"What has happened," he says, "is a major rupture in the social system, felt everywhere."

A minor rupture may only result in paresis, but a major rupture can cause enough damage to cut off circulation.