asbestos
or as·bes·tus
[ as-bes-tuh s, az- ]
/ æsˈbɛs təs, æz- /
noun
Mineralogy.
a fibrous mineral, either amphibole or chrysotile, formerly used for making incombustible or fireproof articles.
a fabric woven from asbestos fibers, formerly used for theater curtains, firefighters' gloves, etc.
Theater.
a fireproof curtain.
Origin of asbestos
1350–1400; < Latin < Greek: literally, unquenched, equivalent to
a-
a-6 +
sbestós (
sbes- variant stem of
sbennýnai to quench +
-tos past participle suffix); replacing Middle English
asbeston, albeston < Middle French < Latin
OTHER WORDS FROM asbestos
as·bes·tine [as-bes-tin, az-] /æsˈbɛs tɪn, æz-/, as·bes·tous, adjective as·bes·toid, as·bes·toi·dal, adjective non·as·bes·tine, adjectiveWords nearby asbestos
asat,
asb,
asb.,
asben,
asbestoid,
asbestos,
asbestos body,
asbestos cement,
asbestosis,
asbjörnsen,
asbm
Example sentences from the Web for asbestos
British Dictionary definitions for asbestos
asbestos
/ (æsˈbɛstɒs, -təs) /
noun
- any of the fibrous amphibole and serpentine minerals, esp chrysotile and tremolite, that are incombustible and resistant to chemicals. It was formerly widely used in the form of fabric or board as a heat-resistant structural material
- (as modifier)asbestos matting
Derived forms of asbestos
asbestine, adjectiveWord Origin for asbestos
C14 (originally applied to a mythical stone the heat of which could not be extinguished): via Latin from Greek: from
asbestos inextinguishable, from
a-
1 +
sbennunai to extinguish
Medical definitions for asbestos
asbestos
[ ăs-bĕs′təs, ăz- ]
n.
Either of two incombustible, chemical-resistant, fibrous mineral forms of impure magnesium silicate, formerly used for fireproofing, electrical insulation, brake linings, and chemical filters but now banned because it causes pleural mesothelioma and asbestosis.
adj.
Of, made of, or containing one or the other of these two mineral forms.
Scientific definitions for asbestos
asbestos
[ ăs-bĕs′təs ]
Any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate. Asbestos is resistant to heat, flames, and chemical action. Some forms have been shown to cause lung diseases. For this reason, asbestos is no longer used to make insulation, fireproofing material, and brake linings.