labile verb
noun1
Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences A transitive verb, such as break, burn, boil, open, start, change, or assimilate, which may be used intransitively with the object of the action as the subject.
- The verb 'break' is labile because it can be used both transitively: I broke the window, and intransitively: the window broke, and in either case the object undergoing the action of breakage is the window.
- Synonyms
- ergative verb
- Related terms
- intradirective verb, causative, middle voice