brittle Hear it!

brittle definition

brit·tle (brit′'l)

adjective

  1. easily broken or shattered because hard and inflexible
  2. having a sharp, hard quality brittle tones
  3. stiff and unbending in manner; lacking warmth

Etymology: ME britel < OE breotan, to break to pieces; akin to ON brjota < IE *bhreu- < base *bher-, to cut with a sharp point

noun

a brittle, crunchy candy with nuts in it peanut brittle

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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