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fragile

adjective

  1. easily broken
L34605 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈfɹæd͡ʒaɪl/ / /ˈfɹæd͡ʒəl/

adj

Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French fragile, from Latin fragilis, formed on frag-, the root of frangere (“to break”). Cognate with fraction, fracture and doublet of frail.

  1. Easily broken, not sturdy; of delicate material.

    “She caught the fragile vase before it could shatter on the floor.”

    “The chemist synthesizes a fragile molecule.”

  2. Readily disrupted or destroyed.

    “The UN tries to maintain the fragile peace process in the region.”

  3. Feeling weak or easily disturbed as a result of illness.
  4. Thin-skinned or oversensitive.

    “He is a very fragile person and gets easily depressed.”

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French fragile, from Latin fragilis, formed on frag-, the root of frangere (“to break”). Cognate with fraction, fracture and doublet of frail.

  1. Something that is fragile.