Friable \Fri"a*ble\, a. [L. friabilis, fr. friare to rub, break, or crumble into small pieces, cf. fricare to rub, E. fray: cf. F. friable.] Easily crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder. ``Friable ground.'' --Evelyn. ``Soft and friable texture.'' --Paley. -- {Fri'a*ble*ness}, n. web1913

friable adj 1: easily broken into small fragments or reduced to powder; "friable sandstone"; "friable carcinomatous tissue"; "friable curds formed in the stomach" 2: (used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency; "light sandy soil" [syn: {light}, {sandy}] wn