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Brittleness: meaning, definitions and examples

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brittleness

 

[ ˈbrɪtəl.nəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

material quality

Brittleness refers to the tendency of a material to fracture or break easily without significant deformation when subjected to stress. It is a physical property that contrasts with ductility, where materials can undergo considerable plastic deformation before breaking. Brittle materials may shatter or crack under impact or tension, leading to potential structural failures in engineering applications.

Synonyms

breakability, crumbliness, fragility.

Examples of usage

  • Glass exhibits high brittleness, making it prone to shattering.
  • The brittleness of cast iron limits its use in certain applications.
  • Cold temperatures can increase the brittleness of metals.
  • Materials with high brittleness often need careful handling.

Translations

Translations of the word "brittleness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fragilidade

🇮🇳 भंगुरता

🇩🇪 Sprödheit

🇮🇩 kekakuan

🇺🇦 крихкість

🇵🇱 kruchość

🇯🇵 脆性

🇫🇷 fragilité

🇪🇸 fragilidad

🇹🇷 kırılganlık

🇰🇷 취약성

🇸🇦 الهشاشة

🇨🇿 křehkost

🇸🇰 krehkosť

🇨🇳 脆性

🇸🇮 krhkost

🇮🇸 brotthæfi

🇰🇿 жарғыштық

🇬🇪 მყიფობა

🇦🇿 qırılma

🇲🇽 fragilidad

Etymology

The term 'brittleness' is derived from the root word 'brittle,' which comes from the Old English 'britt' meaning fragile or brittle combined with the suffix '-ness' signifying a state or quality. The concept has been pivotal in materials science since the 19th century, distinguishing between mechanical properties that affect how materials behave under stress. Understanding brittleness is essential for various engineering applications, such as construction or manufacturing, since brittle failure can lead to catastrophic results. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass not only physical materials but also metaphorically describe delicate emotional states or relationships, illustrating its versatile usage in the English language.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,694, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.