Brittling Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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brittling
[ˈbrɪtəlɪŋ ]
Definition
describing behavior
To brittling means to make brittle or to become brittle. This can refer to materials losing their flexibility and becoming fragile, or it can also describe a person's demeanor that becomes irritable and harsh.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The constant stress had brittled her once friendly attitude.
- The heat can brittling the plastic, making it easy to break.
- Years of exposure to the elements have brittled the old wood.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Materials Science
- Brittling often occurs in materials exposed to extreme temperatures or stress, making them more likely to crack.
- Certain plastics can brittling when exposed to sunlight over time, affecting their use in everyday items.
Construction and Engineering
- When designers assess materials for buildings, they must check for brittleness to ensure safety and durability.
- Brittling can lead to unexpected failures in structures, highlighting the importance of material selection.
Environmental Impact
- Brittling can be accelerated by environmental factors like moisture and pollutants, affecting the longevity of materials.
- In the context of recycling, brittling can limit how many times a material can be reused effectively.
Health and Safety
- Certain metal tools can become brittle due to repetitive stress and may not work safely if not maintained properly.
- Brittling in medical devices can lead to failures, emphasizing the need for rigorous testing.
Literature and Language
- The term 'brittling' evokes the imagery of delicate glass or porcelain, symbolizing fragility in narratives and poetry.
- In literature, a character described as 'brittle' might suggest that they are emotionally fragile or easily broken.
Origin of 'brittling'
The term 'brittling' derives from the adjective 'brittle,' which comes from Old English 'brytel,' meaning 'easily broken.' It has roots in the Proto-Germanic word '*brutalaz,' related to the idea of fragility. The word began to appear in the English lexicon around the 15th century, and its usage has evolved to describe not just physical objects but also emotional states and behaviors that have hardened or become inflexible over time. As language evolved, 'brittling' emerged as a verbal form to denote the act of making something brittle or the process of becoming brittle, both in a literal and figurative sense.