Easily broken or destroyed, and thus often of subtle or intricate structure.
"The ancient glass mosaic was so fragile that a single brushstroke could shatter its delicate geometric patterns."
In plain English: Fragile means easily broken or damaged if you are not careful with it.
"Please handle these glass cups with care because they are very fragile."
Usage: Use fragile to describe objects that break easily due to delicate construction rather than general weakness. It is commonly applied to physical items like glassware but also extends metaphorically to situations requiring careful handling.
The word "fragile" comes from the Latin fragilis, which was built around the root meaning "to break." It entered English through Middle French while retaining its original sense of being easily broken or damaged.