friable

[ frahy-uh-buhl ]
/ ˈfraɪ ə bəl /

adjective

easily crumbled or reduced to powder; crumbly: friable rock.

Origin of friable

1555–65; < Latin friābilis, equivalent to friā(re) to rub, crumble + -ābilis -able

SYNONYMS FOR friable

fragile, frangible.

OTHER WORDS FROM friable

fri·a·bil·i·ty, fri·a·ble·ness, noun un·fri·a·ble, adjective un·fri·a·ble·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH friable

friable fryable

Words nearby friable

freytag, frf, frg, frgs, fri., friable, friar, friar minor, friar minor capuchin, friar minor conventual, friar preacher

Example sentences from the Web for friability

British Dictionary definitions for friability

friable
/ (ˈfraɪəbəl) /

adjective

easily broken up; crumbly

Derived forms of friable

friability or friableness, noun

Word Origin for friable

C16: from Latin friābilis, from friāre to crumble; related to Latin fricāre to rub down

Medical definitions for friability

friable
[ frī′ə-bəl ]

adj.

Readily crumbled; brittle.
Relating to a dry, brittle growth of bacteria.