Dictionary
brit•tle
Pronunciation: (brit'l), [key]
—adj., -tler, -tlest,
—n., v., -tled, -tling.
—
adj.
1. having hardness and rigidity but little tensile strength; breaking readily with a comparatively smooth fracture, as glass.
2. easily damaged or destroyed; fragile; frail:
a brittle marriage.
3. lacking warmth, sensitivity, or compassion; aloof; self-centered:
a self-possessed, cool, and rather brittle person.
4. having a sharp, tense quality:
a brittle tone of voice.
5. unstable or impermanent; evanescent.
—
n.
a confection of melted sugar, usually with nuts, brittle when cooled:
peanut brittle.
—
v.i.
to be or become brittle; crumble.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.