"Brittle" refers to a material's tendency to break or shatter easily under stress or pressure, rather than bending or deforming. This property is often observed in substances like glass, ceramics, and some types of plastics. Brittle materials can fail suddenly and without warning, making them less suitable for applications where flexibility and resilience are required. In contrast to ductile materials, which can stretch and deform without breaking, brittle materials have a limited ability to absorb energy. Understanding brittleness is important in fields such as engineering and materials science, where the choice of materials can significantly impact the safety and durability of structures and products, including bridges, buildings, and automobiles.