FRAGILE


Meaning of FRAGILE in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈfra-jəl, -ˌjī(-ə)l ]

adjective

Etymology: Middle French, from Latin fragilis — more at frail

Date: 1521

1.

a. : easily broken or destroyed

a fragile vase

b. : constitutionally delicate : lacking in vigor

a fragile child

2. : tenuous , slight

fragile hope

• fra·gil·i·ty frə-ˈji-lə-tē noun

Synonyms:

fragile , frangible , brittle , crisp , friable mean breaking easily. fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling

a fragile antique chair

frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy

frangible stone used for paving

brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness

brittle bones

crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods

crisp lettuce

friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized

friable soil

Synonym: see in addition weak .

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.