Definitions

1. verb

to cause (a material) to become brittle or to lose its elasticity and become more prone to cracking or breaking

“The extreme cold caused the metal to embrittle, making it more susceptible to damage.”

2. noun

the process of causing (a material) to become brittle or to lose its elasticity and become more prone to cracking or breaking

“The engineer studied the embrittlement of the metal alloy after prolonged exposure to high temperatures.”