brittle
[ brit-l ]
/ ˈbrɪt l /
adjective, brit·tler, brit·tlest.
noun
a confection of melted sugar, usually with nuts, brittle when cooled: peanut brittle.
verb (used without object), brit·tled, brit·tling.
to be or become brittle; crumble.
Origin of brittle
1350–1400; Middle English
britel, equivalent to
brit- (akin to Old English
brysten fragment) +
-el adj. suffix
OTHER WORDS FROM brittle
brit·tle·ness, noun un·brit·tle, adjective un·brit·tle·ness, nounWords nearby brittle
Example sentences from the Web for brittleness
British Dictionary definitions for brittleness (1 of 2)
brittleness
/ (ˈbrɪtəlnɪs) /
noun
the quality of being brittle
metallurgy
the tendency of a metal to break without being significantly distorted or exposed to a high level of stress
Compare toughness (def. 2), softness (def. 2)
British Dictionary definitions for brittleness (2 of 2)
brittle
/ (ˈbrɪtəl) /
adjective
easily cracked, snapped, or broken; fragile
curt or irritable
a brittle reply
hard or sharp in quality
noun
a crunchy sweet made with treacle and nuts
peanut brittle
Derived forms of brittle
brittlely or brittly, adverbWord Origin for brittle
C14: from Old English
brytel (unattested); related to
brytsen fragment,
brēotan to break
Scientific definitions for brittleness
brittle
[ brĭt′l ]
Having a tendency to break when subject to high stress. Brittle materials have undergone very little strain when they reach their elastic limit, and tend to break at that limit. Compare ductile.