Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
labile was our Word of the Day on 07/26/2013. Hear the podcast!
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Recent Examples of labile from the Web
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Yes, both Mr. Spector and Ms. Hall are dynamic, intelligent and emotionally labile.
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A labile observer, in Persinger's view, could easily mistake the luminous display for an alien visit.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'labile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
We are confident that you won't slip up or err in learning labile, despite its etymology. The word was borrowed into English from French and can be traced back (by way of Middle French labile, meaning "prone to err") to the Latin verb labi, meaning "to slip or fall." Indeed, the first sense of labile in English was "prone to slip, err, or lapse," but that usage is now obsolete. Other labi descendants in English include collapse, elapse, prolapse, and simply lapse.
Origin and Etymology of labile
French, from Middle French, prone to err, from Late Latin labilis, from Latin labi to slip — more at sleep
Other Biology Terms
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of labile
: readily or frequently changing: asa: readily or continually undergoing chemical, physical, or biological change or breakdown a labile antigenb: characterized by wide fluctuations (as in blood pressure or glucose tolerance) labile hypertension labile diabetesc: emotionally unstable
Learn More about labile
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See words that rhyme with labile Nglish: Translation of labile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of labile for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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