fragile
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++fra·gile /ˈfrædʒaɪl $ -dʒəl/ ●●○ adjective 1 WEAKeasily broken or damaged 脆弱的，易碎的，易损坏的 OPP strong Be careful with that vase – it’s very fragile. 小心那只花瓶——很容易打碎的。 fragile bones 脆弱的骨头► see thesaurus at weak2 WEAKa fragile situation is one that is weak or uncertain, and likely to become worse under pressure 〔形势〕脆弱的，不稳定的 OPP strong the country’s fragile economy 该国脆弱的经济 Relations between the two countries are in a fragile state. 两国关系脆弱。 the party’s fragile unity 该党不堪一击的团结3. fragile health a weak physical condition because of illness 虚弱的身体4 thin and delicate 纤巧美丽的 fragile beauty 纤美5. WEAK British English if someone feels fragile they feel ill, especially because they have drunk too much alcohol 有气无力的；虚弱的；〔尤指喝太多酒后〕精神不振的 —fragility /frəˈdʒɪləti/ noun [uncountable]n THESAURUSfragile easily broken or damagedThe documents are old and very fragile. a fragile glass case The seventeenth century wall hangings are extremely fragile.delicate easily damaged – used especially about things that are made from thin material and look attractivea delicate gold necklaceThe plant has delicate blue flowers.delicate fabrics brittle brittle hair, nails, bones etc have a hard surface, but they break easily, especially because they are not in good conditionAs you get older, your bones become more brittle.a special shampoo for dry and brittle hair breakable breakable objects must be handled carefully because they will break easilyPut breakable objects out of the reach of children.breakable ornamentsflimsy made of thin material that tears easily, or badly-made and likely to break easilya flimsy cotton shirt a flimsy wooden tablefrail especially literary not strong and therefore easy to break, damage, or hurtThe young trees are frail and need to be protected from the wind.a frail little fishing boat a frail old lady
Examples from the Corpus
fragile• It is life sculpted by extreme and hostile conditions, life that is fragile and all but unknown.• They are often shy, fragile, and preoccupied with feelings of self-doubt.• This is an environmentally fragile area.• These people can take many blows, but I, I am fragile as a butterfly.• Perhaps the world has never seen a power as fragile as that of the imam.• Two ambulance attendants picked up his fragile body and put him carefully onto a stretcher.• The area also has a range of fragile eco-systems and rare plants including button grass, alpine meadow and snow gum.• Sandra knew just what to say to protect Mike's fragile ego.• This was Abba's tour de force, a brilliantly structured melodrama which put Faltskog's fragile, emotional vocal centre stage.• It could do considerable damage if it happened to hit some of the more fragile equipment.• The parcel was marked FRAGILE -- HANDLE WITH CARE.• Ed's already fragile health deteriorated after he left the hospital.• The baby felt so fragile in his arms.• And in her heart she allowed hope to blossom into fragile life again.• The museum sends fragile porcelain objects to specialists to be restored.fragile economy• The revolution deterred visitors to Madeira and adversely affected the already fragile economy.Origin fragile (1400-1500) Latin fragilis; → FRAILfra·gile adjective →n THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
Corpus or damaged broken easily
fragile
fra‧gile /ˈfrædʒaɪl $ -dʒəl/
adjective1. easily broken or damaged
OPP strong:
Be careful with that vase – it’s very fragile.
fragile bones
2. a fragile situation is one that is weak or uncertain, and likely to become worse under pressure
OPP strong:
the country’s fragile economy
Relations between the two countries are in a fragile state.
the party’s fragile unity
3. fragile health a weak physical condition because of illness
4. thin and delicate:
fragile beauty
5. British English if someone feels fragile they feel ill, especially because they have drunk too much alcohol
—fragility /frəˈdʒɪləti, frəˈdʒɪlɪti/ noun [uncountable]
▪ fragile easily broken or damaged: The documents are old and very fragile. | a fragile glass case | The seventeenth century wall hangings are extemely fragile.
▪delicate easily damaged – used especially about things that are made from thin material and look attractive: a delicate gold necklace | The plant has delicate blue flowers. | delicate fabrics
▪brittle brittle hair, nails, bones etc have a hard surface, but they break easily, especially because they are not in good condition: As you get older, your bones become more brittle. | a special shampoo for dry and brittle hair
▪breakable breakable objects must be handled carefully because they will break easily: Put breakable objects out of the reach of children. | breakable ornaments
▪flimsy made of thin material that tears easily, or badly-made and likely to break easily: a flimsy cotton shirt | a flimsy wooden table
▪frail especially literary not strong and therefore easy to break, damage, or hurt: The young trees are frail and need to be protected from the wind. | a frail little fishing boat | a frail old lady
fra‧gile /ˈfrædʒaɪl $ -dʒəl/
adjective1. easily broken or damaged OPP strong:
2. a fragile situation is one that is weak or uncertain, and likely to become worse under pressure
OPP strong:
3. fragile health a weak physical condition because of illness
4. thin and delicate:
5. British English if someone feels fragile they feel ill, especially because they have drunk too much alcohol
—fragility /frəˈdʒɪləti, frəˈdʒɪlɪti/ noun [uncountable]
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