Brittle



GRE 蓝宝 Barron TOEFL 考研

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj. 脆弱的; 声音尖利的
• ［英］ adj. 脆弱的 ( hard but easily broken) ; 声音尖利的 ( sharp)
• ［类］ manifest : perceive / brittle : break ( 明显的容易察觉 / 易碎的容易打碎)
• ［同］ 派生词: brittleness ( n.脆弱fragility)
• ［例］ a brittle laugh

Webster Collegiate

I. adjective (brittler; brittlest)

• Etymology: Middle English britil; akin to Old English brēotan to break, Old Norse brjōta
• Date: 14th century
• 1.
  • a. easily broken, cracked, or snapped <brittle clay><brittle glass>
  • b. easily disrupted, overthrown, or damaged ; frail <a brittle friendship>
• 2.
  • a. perishable, mortal
  • b. transitory, evanescent
• 3. easily hurt or offended ; sensitive <a brittle personality>
• 4. sharp <the brittle staccato of snare drums>
• 5. lacking warmth, depth, or generosity of spirit ; cold <a brittle selfish person>
• 6. affected with or being a form of type 1 diabetes characterized by large and unpredictable fluctuations in blood glucose level
• Synonyms: see fragile
• ? brittlely adverb
• ? brittleness noun

II. noun

• Date: 1913
• a candy made with caramelized sugar and nuts spread in thin sheets <peanut brittle>

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