noun

1. A confection of caramelized sugar and nuts.

   “As a child, my favorite candy was peanut brittle.”

2. Anything resembling this confection, such as flapjack, a cereal bar, etc.

Synonyms: brickle

adjective

1. Inflexible, liable to break or snap easily under stress or pressure.

   “A diamond is hard but brittle.”

2. Not physically tough or tenacious; apt to break or crumble when bending.

   “Shortbread is my favorite cold pastry, yet being so brittle it crumbles easily, and a lot goes to waste.”

3. Said of rocks and minerals with a conchoidal fracture; capable of being knapped or flaked.