fragile
English edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Middle French fragile, from Latin fragilis, formed on frag-, the root of frangere (“to break”). Cognate fraction, fracture and doublet of frail.
Pronunciation edit
- (UK, General Australian, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈfɹædʒaɪl/
Audio (CA) (file)
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈfɹæd͡ʒəl/
Audio (US) (file)
- Rhymes: -ædʒaɪl, -ædʒəl
Adjective edit
fragile (comparative fragiler or more fragile, superlative fragilest or most fragile)
- Easily broken or destroyed, and thus often of subtle or intricate structure.
- The chemist synthesizes a fragile molecule.
- The UN tries to maintain the fragile peace process in the region.
- (UK) Feeling weak or easily disturbed as a result of illness.
- (UK) Thin-skinned or oversensitive.
- He is a very fragile person and gets easily depressed.
Synonyms edit
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
easily broken or destroyed
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Noun edit
fragile (plural fragiles)
- Something that is fragile.
French edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Latin fragilis. Doublet of frêle.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
fragile (plural fragiles)
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Further reading edit
- “fragile”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams edit
German edit
Pronunciation edit
Audio (file)
Adjective edit
fragile
- inflection of fragil:
Italian edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
fragile (plural fragili, superlative fragilissimo)
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Further reading edit
- fragile in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
Anagrams edit
Latin edit
Adjective edit
fragile