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fragile

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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionaryfrag·ile \ˈfra-jəl, -ˌjī(-ə)l\ adjective ETYMOLOGY Middle French, from Latin fragilis — more at frail DATE 15211. a. easily broken or destroyed a fragile vase b. constitutionally delicate : lacking in vigor a fragile child2. tenuous, slight fragile hope• fra·gil·i·ty \frə-ˈji-lə-tē\ nounSynonyms. fragile, frangible, brittle, crisp, friable mean breaking easily. fragileimplies 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 soilSynonym: see in addition weak.English Etymologyfragile 1510s as "liable to sin;" c.1600 as "liable to break;" from Fr.fragile (14c.), from L. fragilis (see fragility).Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7fragilefra·gile / 5frAdVail; NAmE -dVl / adjective1. easily broken or damaged 易碎的；易损的: fragile china / glass / bones 易碎的瓷器/玻璃制品/骨骼 2. weak and uncertain; easily destroyed or spoilt 不牢固的；脆弱的: a fragile alliance / ceasefire / relationship 不牢固的联盟；不确定的停火/关系 The economy remains extremely fragile. 经济仍然极其脆弱。 3. delicate and often beautiful 纤巧的；精细的；纤巧美丽的: fragile beauty 纤美 The woman's fragile face broke into a smile. 那面孔秀丽的女子粲然一笑。 4. not strong and likely to become ill / sick 虚弱的: Her father is now 86 and in fragile health. 她的父亲现在 86 岁,身体虚弱。 (BrE, informal) I'm feeling a bit fragile after last night (= not well, perhaps because of drinking too much alcohol). 昨夜以后我觉得身子有点发虚(可能是纵酒所致)。 • fra·gil·ity / frE5dVilEti / noun [U] : the fragility of the human body 人体的脆弱 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of EnglishOxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishfragile adj. VERBS be, feel, look, seem | remain ADV. exceedingly, extremely, very | a little, rather | ecologically the ecologically fragile mountain forests Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Editionadj. Function: adjective 1 easily broken FF1C;a fragile dish of the finest porcelainFF1E; Synonyms: breakable, delicate, fracturable, frail, frangible, shatterable, shattery Related Words: brittle, crisp, crumbly, crunchy, friable, short Contrasted Words: infrangible, unbreakable; elastic, flexible, resilient; stout, strong, sturdy, tenacious Antonyms: tough 2 Synonyms: WEAK 1, decrepit, feeble, flimsy, frail, infirm, insubstantial, unsound, unsubstantial, weakly Antonyms: durableWebster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridgedfrag·ile\ˈfrajə̇l, US also & Brit usually -aˌjīl\ adjectiveEtymology: Middle French, from Latin fragilis — more at frail1. 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

Fragile A Adjective Easily Broken C Dictionary Fragilis