precarious

précaire, instable

Qui manque de sécurité ou de stabilité et risque de tomber, d’échouer ou de se dégrader.

En anglais simple : Unsafe or uncertain, with a risk of falling, failing, or becoming worse.

• The ladder looked precarious.
• Their financial situation became precarious after he lost his job.
• She kept a precarious balance on the narrow wall.

Synonymes : unstable, insecure, risky

Contraires : secure, stable

Expressions courantes : precarious position, precarious balance, precarious situation

précaire

Dont la continuation dépend de la volonté d’une autre personne de l’autoriser.

En anglais simple : Depending on another person's willingness to let something continue.

• The tenant held precarious possession of the land.
• His precarious tenure depended entirely on the owner's permission.
• These precarious rights could be withdrawn whenever the ruler wished.

Synonymes : revocable, dependent

Expressions courantes : precarious tenure, precarious possession, precarious right

précarieux

Relatif à une carie dentaire qui commence tout juste à se former.

En anglais simple : Connected with tooth decay that is just beginning.

• The dentist noted precarious changes in the enamel.
• The report describes a precarious lesion on the tooth.
• These precarious areas show the earliest signs of decay.

Expressions courantes : precarious lesion, precarious enamel, precarious changes