brittle
brittle definition
brit·tle (brit′'l)
adjective
- easily broken or shattered because hard and inflexible
- having a sharp, hard quality brittle tones
- 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:
- brittlely brit′·tlely adverb or brittly brit′·tly
- brittleness brit′·tle·ness noun
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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