Adjective

(en adjective)

Liable to slip, err, fall, or apostatize.

Apt or likely to change.

*, II.12:

Pythagoras [said] that each thing or matter was ever gliding and labile .

(chemistry, of a compound or bond) Kinetically unstable; rapidly cleaved (and possibly reformed).

Certain drugs can be conjugated to polymer molecules with a linkage that is labile at low pH to effect controlled release in a cellular endosome.

Water ligands typically bind metals in a labile fashion and are rapidly interchanged in aqueous solution.

Adjective

(en adjective)

In disrepair or disorder; poorly maintained; lacking upkeep, usually of buildings or vehicles.

* Thackeray

There came my lord the cardinal, in his ramshackle coach.

They stayed in a ramshackle cabin on the beach.

He entered the ramshackle bus, and was driven a long distance through very sandy streets to the hotel on the St. Lawrence.

* {{quote-news

, year=2012 , date=September 7 , author=Dominic Fifield , title=England start World Cup campaign with five-goal romp against Moldova , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=So ramshackle was the locals' attempt at defence that, with energetic wingers pouring into the space behind panicked full-backs and centre-halves dizzied by England's movement, it was cruel to behold at times. The contest did not extend beyond the half-hour mark.}}