labile

adjective la·bile \ˈlā-ˌbī(-ə)l, -bəl\

Definition of LABILE

: readily or continually undergoing chemical, physical, or biological change or breakdown : unstable <a labile mineral>

: readily open to change

— la·bil·i·ty \lā-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

Origin of LABILE

French, from Middle French, prone to err, from Late Latin labilis, from Latin labi to slip — more at sleep

First Known Use: 1603

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

Rhymes with LABILE

abseil, air mile, bass viol, black bile, Blue Nile, decile, erstwhile, exile, Fair Isle, field trial, gentile, high style, hostile, lifestyle, meanwhile, motile, nail file, New Style, old style, Old Style, on file, profile, redial, reptile, show trial, stockpile, time trial

Medical Dictionary

labile

adjective la·bile \ˈlā-ˌbīl, -bəl\

Medical Definition of LABILE

: readily or frequently changing: as a : readily or continually undergoing chemical, physical, or biological change or breakdown <a labile antigen> b : characterized by wide fluctuations (as in blood pressure or glucose tolerance) <labile hypertension> <labile diabetes> c : emotionally unstable

—la·bil·i·ty \lā-ˈbil-ət-ē\ noun, plural la·bil·i·ties