optical fiber


noun

a very thin, flexible glass or plastic strand along which large quantities of information can be transmitted in the form of light pulses: used in telecommunications, medicine, and other fields.
Also called light guide.

Origin of optical fiber

First recorded in 1960–65

Scientific definitions for optical fiber

optical fiber

A flexible transparent fiber of extremely pure glass or plastic, generally between 10 and 200 micrometers in diameter, used especially to carry light signals for telecommunication purposes. See more at fiber optics.