supple

Word family

sup·ple /ˈsʌpəl/ adjectiveadj

1 BENDsomeone who is supple bends and moves easily and gracefully 〔身体〕柔软的，灵活的 OPP stiff

She exercises every day to keep herself supple.

她每天锻炼以保持身体柔韧。

2. BENDleather, skin, wood etc that is supple is soft and bends easily 〔皮革、皮肤、木料等〕柔软易弯的；柔韧的

—suppleness noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

supple• Exercise will help keep your joints and muscles supple.• But her writing was also growing slightly more supple.• Only one small, white-highlighted ripple showed where the supple arrow of his body had pierced the water.• A slice of black bread, supple as cardboard.• Stoked by heat, they said, the thick layer of rock known as the mantle could be supple enough to flow.• Sometimes there was a new seriousness, the supple posture of childhood exchanged for squared shoulders and a stiff spine.• These minute, supple spheres rest invisibly on the surface of the skin.• The most important thing is to be supple, to be flexible.

Origin supple

(1200-1300) Old French souple, from Latin supplex “bending under, willing to obey”

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus