friable

adjective

fri·a·ble ˈfrī-ə-bəl How to pronounce friable (audio)

: easily crumbled or pulverized

friable soil

friability

ˌfrī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce friable (audio)

noun

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When should you use friable?

Friable entered into English in the mid-1500s, and was borrowed either from Middle French or directly from Latin friabilis. This Latin adjective comes from the verb "friare," which means "to crumble." "Friare" in turn is related to the verb "fricare" ("to rub"), the source of the English noun "friction." "Friable" is used to describe something that can be easily reduced to a powdered form. In contemporary usage, it is often found in the discussion of asbestos. Health concerns about asbestos primarily center around friable asbestos—that is, asbestos that is easily pulverized into tiny fibers which may remain suspended in the air and become a potential health risk to those who inhale them.

Example Sentences

sand dollars are friable, so handle them carefully

Recent Examples on the Web The rock beneath the massive flood deposits was relatively friable volcanic rock, easily broken and carved.

Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2022 They’re turned annually, but otherwise left to their own devices in a tri-year cycle that converts his kitchen scraps, weeds and leaves into moist friable soil rich in micronutrients.

Beth Segal, cleveland, 8 July 2020 Mule deer that easily vault over barbed-wire fences don’t test the creek’s friable banks.

Andrew Mckean, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2020 At the Doug Fir, however, the Robinsons will perform as a duo, surely boring into their hits — and stress-testing the ecology of a friable partnership.9 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, Doug Fir Lounge.

oregonlive, 27 Feb. 2020 My hair is thin and friable, the color of damp straw, my neck ropy and straining.

Summer Block, Longreads, 23 Aug. 2019 Feed your soil Kranz is a strong proponent of organic gardening and believes building a friable (i.e. crumbly), nutrient-rich soil is critical to your garden’s success.

Jeanette Marantos, The Seattle Times, 12 Apr. 2019 Fertilize Your Cucumber Plants Cucumbers thrive in light, friable soil.

The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 12 July 2018 Materials that contain asbestos, such as vinyl floor tiles, are non-friable.

David Anderson, The Aegis, 10 May 2018 See More

friable

adjective

as in brittle

having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure sand dollars are friable, so handle them carefully

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

brittle
crumbly
crisp
fragile
short
flaky
crispy
crisped
brickle
flakey
delicate
crusty
embrittled
crunchy
crackly
breakable
crispened

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flexible
resilient
pliable
elastic
pliant
sturdy
tough
strong

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of friable are brittle, crisp, fragile, and frangible. While all these words mean "breaking easily," friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized.

friable soil

The words brittle and friable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness.

brittle bones

The meanings of crisp and friable largely overlap; however, crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods.

crisp lettuce

The synonyms fragile and friable are sometimes interchangeable, but fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling.

a fragile antique chair

While the synonyms frangible and friable are close in meaning, frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy.

frangible stone used for paving

单词	friable
释义	friable adjective fri·a·ble ˈfrī-ə-bəl : easily crumbled or pulverized friable soil friability ˌfrī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun Did you know? When should you use friable? Friable entered into English in the mid-1500s, and was borrowed either from Middle French or directly from Latin friabilis. This Latin adjective comes from the verb "friare," which means "to crumble." "Friare" in turn is related to the verb "fricare" ("to rub"), the source of the English noun "friction." "Friable" is used to describe something that can be easily reduced to a powdered form. In contemporary usage, it is often found in the discussion of asbestos. Health concerns about asbestos primarily center around friable asbestos—that is, asbestos that is easily pulverized into tiny fibers which may remain suspended in the air and become a potential health risk to those who inhale them. Synonyms brickle [dialect] brittle crisp crispy crumbly embrittled flaky flakey short See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences sand dollars are friable, so handle them carefully Recent Examples on the Web The rock beneath the massive flood deposits was relatively friable volcanic rock, easily broken and carved. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Apr. 2022 They’re turned annually, but otherwise left to their own devices in a tri-year cycle that converts his kitchen scraps, weeds and leaves into moist friable soil rich in micronutrients. Beth Segal, cleveland, 8 July 2020 Mule deer that easily vault over barbed-wire fences don’t test the creek’s friable banks. Andrew Mckean, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2020 At the Doug Fir, however, the Robinsons will perform as a duo, surely boring into their hits — and stress-testing the ecology of a friable partnership.9 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, Doug Fir Lounge. oregonlive, 27 Feb. 2020 My hair is thin and friable, the color of damp straw, my neck ropy and straining. Summer Block, Longreads, 23 Aug. 2019 Feed your soil Kranz is a strong proponent of organic gardening and believes building a friable (i.e. crumbly), nutrient-rich soil is critical to your garden’s success. Jeanette Marantos, The Seattle Times, 12 Apr. 2019 Fertilize Your Cucumber Plants Cucumbers thrive in light, friable soil. The Editors, Good Housekeeping, 12 July 2018 Materials that contain asbestos, such as vinyl floor tiles, are non-friable. David Anderson, The Aegis, 10 May 2018 See More Word History Etymology Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin friabilis, from friare to crumble — more at friction First Known Use 1563, in the meaning defined above Medical Definition friable adjective fri·a·ble ˈfrī-ə-bəl : easily crumbled or pulverized friable carcinomatous tissue also : marked by erosion and bleeding a friable cervix with bleeding on contact Pippa Oakeshott et al. friable adjective as in brittle having a texture that readily breaks into little pieces under pressure sand dollars are friable, so handle them carefully Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance brittle crumbly crisp fragile short flaky crispy crisped brickle flakey delicate crusty embrittled crunchy crackly breakable crispened Antonyms & Near Antonyms flexible resilient pliable elastic pliant sturdy tough strong See More Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of friable are brittle, crisp, fragile, and frangible. While all these words mean "breaking easily," friable applies to substances that are easily crumbled or pulverized. friable soil The words brittle and friable are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, brittle implies hardness together with lack of elasticity or flexibility or toughness. brittle bones The meanings of crisp and friable largely overlap; however, crisp implies a firmness and brittleness desirable especially in some foods. crisp lettuce The synonyms fragile and friable are sometimes interchangeable, but fragile implies extreme delicacy of material or construction and need for careful handling. a fragile antique chair While the synonyms frangible and friable are close in meaning, frangible implies susceptibility to being broken without implying weakness or delicacy. frangible stone used for paving
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friable

adjective

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Synonyms

Example Sentences

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Medical Definition

adjective

adjective

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