brittle

views updated May 18 2018

brit·tle / ˈbritl/ • adj. hard but liable to break or shatter easily: her bones became fragile and brittle. ∎  (of a sound, esp. a person's voice) unpleasantly hard and sharp and showing signs of instability or nervousness: a brittle laugh. ∎  (of a person or behavior) appearing aggressive or hard but unstable or nervous within: her manner was strained and brittle.• n. a candy made from nuts and set melted sugar: peanut brittle.DERIVATIVES: brit·tle·ly (or brit·tly) adv.brit·tle·ness n.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

brittle

views updated May 14 2018

brittle ME. britil, bretil, brütil point to deriv. from bryt-, f. mutated form of Gmc. *brut-, weak grade of *breutan (OE. brēotan = ON. brjōta) break up, of unkn. orig. See -LE2.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

brittle

views updated May 08 2018

brittle See TENACITY.

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY

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