friable
[ frahy-uh-buhl ]
adjective
easily crumbled or reduced to powder; crumbly: friable rock.
Origin of friable
1First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin friābilis, equivalent to friā(re) “to rub, crumble” + -ābilis -able
Other words for friable
Other words from friable
- fri·a·bil·i·ty, fri·a·ble·ness, noun
- un·fri·a·ble, adjective
- un·fri·a·ble·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with friable
- friable , fryable
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for friable
friable
/ (ˈfraɪəbəl) /
adjective
easily broken up; crumbly
Origin of friable
1C16: from Latin friābilis, from friāre to crumble; related to Latin fricāre to rub down
Derived forms of friable
- friability or friableness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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