labile
[ ley-buh l, -bahyl ]
/ ˈleɪ bəl, -baɪl /
adjective
apt or likely to change.
Chemistry.
(of a compound) capable of changing state or becoming inactive when subjected to heat or radiation.
Origin of labile
1400–50; late Middle English
labyl < Late Latin
lābilis, equivalent to Latin
lāb(ī) to slip +
-ilis
-ile
OTHER WORDS FROM labile
la·bil·i·ty [luh-bil-i-tee, ley-] /ləˈbɪl ɪ ti, leɪ-/, nounWords nearby labile
labialism,
labialize,
labialized,
labiate,
labiche,
labile,
labilize,
labio-,
labiocervical,
labiochorea,
labioclination
Example sentences from the Web for labile
We are rather like the labile chemical compounds: our molecules readily rearrange themselves.
Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2 (of 6) |Havelock EllisOn the contrary the labile opsonins of normal serum have a comparatively general action on different organisms.
British Dictionary definitions for labile
labile
/ (ˈleɪbɪl) /
adjective
chem
(of a compound) prone to chemical change
liable to change or move
Derived forms of labile
lability (ləˈbɪlɪtɪ), nounWord Origin for labile
C15: via Late Latin
lābilis, from Latin
lābī to slide, slip
Medical definitions for labile
labile
[ lā′bīl′, -bəl ]
adj.
Receptive to change; adaptable.
Constantly undergoing or likely to undergo change, as a chemical compound; unstable.