friable

[ frahy-uh-buhl ]

adjective

1. easily crumbled or reduced to powder; crumbly:

   friable rock.

   Synonyms: frangible, fragile

friable

/ ˈfraɪəbəl /

adjective

1. easily broken up; crumbly

Derived Forms

• ˌfriaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• fria·bili·ty fria·ble·ness noun
• un·fria·ble adjective
• un·fria·ble·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of friable¹

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin friābilis, equivalent to friā(re) “to rub, crumble” + -ābilis -able

Word History and Origins

Origin of friable¹

C16: from Latin friābilis , from friāre to crumble; related to Latin fricāre to rub down

Example Sentences

Another specimen of sandstone is friable, of a light flesh-red colour, and apparently composed of the debris of granite.

From Project Gutenberg

At B will be observed the employment of masonry to strengthen the crumbling walls of the friable tufa.

From Project Gutenberg

They are sometimes very friable, sometimes very hard; and some that are friable when they first fall, become hard afterwards.

From Project Gutenberg

The top-spit earth from an upland pasture, loamy, friable, and well reduced; 3.

From Project Gutenberg

The bottoms are of rich friable earth, and afford grass of various kinds, among others that of red clover.

From Project Gutenberg