FRAGILE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fragile mean? 

• FRAGILE (adjective)
  The adjective FRAGILE has 3 senses:

1. easily broken or damaged or destroyed

2. vulnerably delicate

3. lacking substance or significance

  Familiarity information: FRAGILE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FRAGILE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Easily broken or damaged or destroyed

Synonyms:

delicate; fragile; frail

Context example:

a frail craft

Similar:

breakable (capable of being broken or damaged)

Derivation:

fragility (quality of being easily damaged or destroyed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Vulnerably delicate

Context example:

she has the fragile beauty of youth

Similar:

delicate (exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lacking substance or significance

Synonyms:

flimsy; fragile; slight; tenuous; thin

Context example:

a fragile claim to fame

Similar:

insignificant; unimportant (devoid of importance, meaning, or force)

 Context examples 

A genetic syndrome caused by mutations in the FMR1 gene which is responsible for the expression of the fragile X mental retardation 1 protein.

(Fragile X Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of inherited developmental disability.

(Fragile X Syndrome, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

Fragile X mental retardation 1 protein (632 aa, ~71 kDa) is encoded by the human FMR1 gene.

(Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes fragile X mental retardation 1 protein, may play a role in the mediation of mRNA transport.

(FMR1 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

An inherited connective tissue disorder characterized by loose and fragile skin and joint hypermobility.

(Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

If your bones are fragile from osteoporosis, you could break a bone, often a hip.

(Falls, NIH: National Institute on Aging)

The Havanese gives a rugged impression of a little dog; it is sturdy and not fragile.

(Havanese, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about whether an individual has or had a problem with their skin being fragile, easily bruised, or developing stretch marks.

(Have Problem with Fragile Skin or Bruising, NCI Thesaurus)

Examples of overgrowth syndromes include neurofibromatosis, Sotos syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, Weaver syndrome, Proteus syndrome, Sturge-Weber syndrome, and fragile X syndrome.

(Overgrowth syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

Genetic deficiency in the activity of this enzyme is very common in some populations, and can result in anemias caused by fragile red blood cells.

(Oxidative Reactions of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)