gracile
Americanadjective
-
gracefully slender.
-
slender; thin.
adjective
-
gracefully thin or slender
-
a less common word for graceful
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of gracile
First recorded in 1615–25, gracile is from the Latin word gracilis slender, slight, thin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Judging from its unique adaptations, this was a particularly gracile and innovative predator that possessed clawed digits primed for pouncing onto the backs of larger animals.
From New York Times • Mar. 26, 2020
Early modern humans – more gracile, and perhaps quicker to adapt and take advantage of their environment – then migrated north from Africa to outpace and outlive the first Europeans.
From The Guardian • Feb. 11, 2016
A short-snouted, orca-like skull shape is present in Temnodontosaurus eurycephalus, a markedly elongate, pointed rostrum is present in T. acutirostris and a markedly gracile, possibly edentulous rostrum is present in T. azerguensis, for example.
From Scientific American • Jan. 30, 2014
Several remarkably gracile, long-limbed teiioid species – informally grouped together as the sprinter teiioids – are swift pursuit predators of other squamates.
From Scientific American • Apr. 1, 2013
Rostrum longius, gracile, acutum, sub-arcuatum, basi crass�, lat�, trigon�, lateribus compressis, mandibul� superiore apicem juxta leviter emarginat�.
From Zoological Illustrations, Volume II or Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals by Swainson, William
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
