1. Easily reduced to powder. 2. In bacteriology, denoting a dry and brittle culture falling into powder when touched or shaken. [L. friabilis, fr. frio, to crumble]
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fri·a·ble 'frī-ə-bəl adj easily crumbled or pulverized <\friable carcinomatous tissue> also marked by erosion and bleeding <a \friable cervix with bleeding on contact (Pippa Oakeshott )(et al)>
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fri·a·ble (friґə-bəl) [L. friabilis] easily pulverized or crumbled.Medical dictionary. 2011.