FRAIL

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does frail mean? 

• FRAIL (noun)
  The noun FRAIL has 2 senses:

1. the weight of a frail (basket) full of raisins or figs; between 50 and 75 pounds

2. a basket for holding dried fruit (especially raisins or figs)

  Familiarity information: FRAIL used as a noun is rare.

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

1. physically weak

2. wanting in moral strength, courage, or will; having the attributes of man as opposed to e.g. divine beings

3. easily broken or damaged or destroyed

  Familiarity information: FRAIL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FRAIL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The weight of a frail (basket) full of raisins or figs; between 50 and 75 pounds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("frail" is a kind of...):

weight; weight unit (a unit used to measure weight)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A basket for holding dried fruit (especially raisins or figs)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("frail" is a kind of...):

basket; handbasket (a container that is usually woven and has handles)

• FRAIL (adjective)

Comparative: frailer   
Superlative: frailest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Physically weak

Context example:

an invalid's frail body

Similar:

debile; decrepit; feeble; infirm; rickety; sapless; weak; weakly (lacking bodily or muscular strength or vitality)

light-boned (having a bone structure that is light with respect to the surrounding flesh)

Also:

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

weak (wanting in physical strength)

Antonym:

robust (sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction)

Derivation:

frailness (the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Wanting in moral strength, courage, or will; having the attributes of man as opposed to e.g. divine beings

Synonyms:

fallible; frail; imperfect; weak

Context example:

frail humanity

Similar:

human (having human form or attributes as opposed to those of animals or divine beings)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Easily broken or damaged or destroyed

Synonyms:

delicate; fragile; frail

Context example:

a frail craft

Similar:

breakable (capable of being broken or damaged)

 Context examples 

The nocturnal visitor was a young man, frail and thin, with a black moustache, which intensified the deadly pallor of his face.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She buried her head on my shoulder, her frail form shaken with a storm of weeping.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

When once I had pressed the frail shoulder, something new—a fresh sap and sense—stole into my frame.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The partitions between the cells of the convicts, instead of being of thick oak, as is usual in convict-ships, were quite thin and frail.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He brushed aside the frail weapon which was opposed to him, whirled up his great blade, sprang back to get the fairer sweep—and vanished into the waters of the Garonne.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When they joined the study, none of the participants were frail: they could walk a quarter mile, climb 10 steps, and independently complete daily activities.

(Declining Sense of Smell Linked to Risk of Death, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

"They seem so helpless and frail. But there are none in the forest so bright as these."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

His wiry energy is wonderful in so frail a frame.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She screamed with fright as he seized her dress in his teeth and dragged on it till the frail fabric tore away.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Jo frowned upon that piece of extravagance, and asked why he didn't buy a frail of dates, a cask of raisins, and a bag of almonds, and be done with it?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)