ˈfrajə̇l, US also & Brit usually -aˌjīl adjective
Etymology: Middle French, from Latin fragilis — more at frail
1.
a. : easily broken or destroyed : frail
the fragile stem of the tall flower
a person of fragile moral convictions
b. : delicate of constitution or of health : barely able or unable to endure without harm the normal day-to-day physical demands of existence : unusually susceptible to ill health or physical harm
a fragile and tottering old man
too fragile to stand the Vermont winter — Sinclair Lewis
c. : giving the impression of or having qualities suggesting someone that is fragile of body or health
a fragile soprano
a fragile gesture
fragile hands
2.
a. : weak , tenuous , unsubstantial
a fragile connection with great men
the ground of his faith … seemed to me so fragile — H.J.Laski
b. : thin and transparent
a fragile skin
: extremely light and evanescent
a fragile tone
: diaphanous
a fragile taffeta
c. : extremely subtle or fine : calling for an extremely fine perception
a fragile wine
the tantalizing, fragile taste of fresh blue crab — Hugh Cave
d. : short-lived , evanescent
a fragile moment
Synonyms: see weak