Definitions for frailfreɪl

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

frail^*freɪl(adj.)-er, -est.

having delicate health.
easily broken or destroyed.
morally weak.

^* Syn: frail , brittle , fragile imply a delicacy or weakness of substance or construction. frail applies particularly to health and immaterial things: a frail constitution; frail hopes.brittle implies a hard material that snaps or breaks to pieces easily: brittle as glass.fragile implies that the object must be handled carefully to avoid breakage or damage: fragile bric-a-brac.

Origin of frail:

1300–50; ME < OF < L fragilisfragile

frail′ness(n.)

frailfreɪl(n.)

a basket made of rushes and used esp. for dried fruits.

Origin of frail:

1300–50; ME frayel, fraelle < OF frayel, of uncert. orig.

Princeton's WordNet

frail(noun)
the weight of a frail (basket) full of raisins or figs; between 50 and 75 pounds
frail(adj)
a basket for holding dried fruit (especially raisins or figs)
frail(adj)
physically weak
"an invalid's frail body"
fallible, frail, imperfect, weak(adj)
wanting in moral strength, courage, or will; having the attributes of man as opposed to e.g. divine beings
"I'm only a fallible human"; "frail humanity"
delicate, fragile, frail(adj)
easily broken or damaged or destroyed
"a kite too delicate to fly safely"; "fragile porcelain plates"; "fragile old bones"; "a frail craft"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

frail(adjective)ɪl
physically weak
a frail old man

Wiktionary

frail(Noun)
A basket made of rushes, used chiefly for containing figs and raisins.
frail(Noun)
The quantity of raisins contained in a frail.
frail(Noun)
A rush for weaving baskets.
frail(Noun)
A girl.
frail(Verb)
To play a stringed instrument, usually a banjo, by picking with the back of a fingernail.
frail(Adjective)
Easily broken; mentally or physically fragile; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish; easily destroyed; not tenacious of life; weak; infirm.
frail(Adjective)
Liable to fall from virtue or be led into sin; not strong against temptation; weak in resolution; unchaste.

Origin: From frele, from fragilis. Cognate to fraction, fracture, and fragile.

Webster Dictionary

Frail(noun)
a basket made of rushes, used chiefly for containing figs and raisins
Frail(noun)
the quantity of raisins -- about thirty-two, fifty-six, or seventy-five pounds, -- contained in a frail
Frail(noun)
a rush for weaving baskets
Frail
easily broken; fragile; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish; easily destroyed; not tenacious of life; weak; infirm
Frail
tender
Frail
liable to fall from virtue or be led into sin; not strong against temptation; weak in resolution; also, unchaste; -- often applied to fallen women