brittle

Word family

brit·tle /ˈbrɪtl/ adjectiveadj

1 BREAKhard but easily broken 脆的，易碎的

The branches were dry and brittle.

那些树枝又干又脆。

Joanna was diagnosed as having brittle bones.

乔安娜被诊断为骨质疏松。

2 DAMAGEa situation, relationship, or feeling that is brittle is easily damaged or destroyed 〔情形、关系或感情〕脆弱的

He spoke with the brittle confidence of someone who, underneath, was very worried.

他说话的时候带着一种一戳击破的自信，因为他内心非常焦虑。

3 UNFRIENDLYshowing no warm feelings 冷淡的

a brittle laugh

冷淡的笑

Examples from the Corpus

brittle• Perming makes your hair more brittle.• Relations between the two countries are still very brittle.• The paper was old and brittle.• The thick slash lying everywhere had been packed down, and decay had made it brittle.• The building's electrical wiring was worn and brittle, causing a fire hazard.• The result was a sweaty medley, harsh and brittle on the surface, but cheesy and rotten underneath.• Then the brittle pupal case had cracked at the top, where the adult moth had emerged.• But the comic form he has chosen is too brittle to contain his appalled indignation.

Origin brittle

(1300-1400) Old English gebryttan “to break into pieces”

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus