brittle

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

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Brittle

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[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbɹɪtl̩/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

• Rhymes: -ɪtəl

[edit] Adjective

brittle (comparative brittler or more brittle, superlative brittlest or most brittle)

1. Inflexible, may break or snap easily under stress or pressure.
   • Cast iron is much more brittle than forged iron.
   • A diamond is hard but brittle.
2. (archaeology) Said of rocks and minerals with a conchoidal fracture; capable of being knapped or flaked.
3. Not physically tough or tenacious; apt to break or crumble when bending.
   • Shortbread is my favorite cold pastry, yet being so brittle it crumbles easily, and a lot goes to waste.
4. Emotionally fragile, easily offended.
   • What a brittle personality! A little misunderstanding and he's an emotional wreck.

[edit] Related terms

• brittleness

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

brittle (countable and uncountable; plural brittles)

1. A confection of caramelized sugar and nuts; brickle.
   • As a child my favorite candy was peanut brittle.

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• break, breakable
• short (adjective)

[edit] References

• brittle in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

[edit] Anagrams

• Alphagram: beilrtt
• blitter