fragile

English

Etymology

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

  • (UK, General Australian, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈfɹædʒaɪl/
    • (file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈfɹæd͡ʒəl/
    • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ædʒaɪl, -ædʒəl

Adjective

fragile (comparative fragiler or more fragile, superlative fragilest or most fragile)

  1. 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.
  2. (UK) Feeling weak or easily disturbed as a result of illness.
  3. (UK) Thin-skinned or oversensitive.
    He is a very fragile person and gets easily depressed.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

fragile (plural fragiles)

  1. Something that is fragile.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fragilis. Doublet of frêle.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /fʁa.ʒil/
  • (file)
  • Homophone: fragiles

Adjective

fragile (plural fragiles)

  1. fragile

Derived terms

Further reading

Anagrams

German

Pronunciation

  • (file)

Adjective

fragile

  1. inflection of fragil:
    1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
    2. strong nominative/accusative plural
    3. weak nominative all-gender singular
    4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin fragilem.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfra.d͡ʒi.le/
  • Rhymes: -adʒile
  • Hyphenation: frà‧gi‧le

Adjective

fragile (plural fragili, superlative fragilissimo)

  1. fragile

Derived terms

Further reading

  • fragile in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

Anagrams

Latin

Adjective

fragile

  1. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular of fragilis
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.