vulnerable

views updated

vul·ner·a·ble / ˈvəln(ə)rəbəl/ • adj. susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm: we were in a vulnerable position small fish are vulnerable to predators. ∎  Bridge (of a partnership) liable to higher penalties, either by convention or through having won one game toward a rubber.DERIVATIVES: vul·ner·a·bil·i·ty / ˌvəln(ə)rəˈbilitē/ n. (pl. -ties) vul·ner·a·ble·ness n.vul·ner·a·bly / -blē/ adv.ORIGIN: early 17th cent.: from late Latin vulnerabilis, from Latin vulnerare ‘to wound,’ from vulnus ‘wound.’