labile
/ˈleɪbɪl
/ /ˈleɪbʌɪl/adjective technical
1Liable to change; easily altered: persons whose blood pressure is more labile will carry an enhanced risk of heart attack we may be the most labile culture in all history
1.1Of or characterized by emotions which are easily aroused, freely expressed, and tend to alter quickly and spontaneously: mood seemed generally appropriate, but the patient was often labile...
- Only emotionally labile noncompliance was a significant predictor of peer rejection.
- Objectively, he is emotionally labile and becomes jittery and nervous when discussing the ring.
- She may be labile and inconsistent, expressing strong emotions of various types without any solid reason.
1.2 Chemistry Easily broken down or displaced: the breakage of labile bonds [in combination]: a heat-labile protein...
- We know that elements are labile things, which is why lead water pipes and lead-based paints are no longer manufactured, and why aluminium cooking utensils are (rightly or wrongly) accused on suspicion of causing dementia.
- This is consistent with perceptions that lipids are more labile than nonlipids.
- The chemical exchange of labile deuterons was measured as described previously, using an inversion-transfer technique.
Derivatives
lability
/ noun ...- Increasing problems with mood lability are noticeable as girls move into puberty.
- The change of the lability of the system as the diffusion layer thickness is modified is analyzed in detail.
- Other examples of affective lability can be found in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'liable to err or sin'): from late Latin labilis, from labi 'to fall'.