ASBESTOS Definition & Meaning

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asbestos

or ��·��·�ٳܲ�

[ as-bes-tuhs, az- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

asbestos

/ -təs; æsˈbɛstɒs /

noun

1. 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
2. ( as modifier )
  asbestos matting

asbestos

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.

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Derived Forms

��ˈ��پ��Ա�, adjective

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��·��·�پ��Ա� [as-, bes, -tin, az-], ��·��t�ǳܲ� adjective
��·��t�Ǿ�� ��b��·�ٴǾ�d�� adjective
�Դǲ�a��·��t��Ա� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of asbestos¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin, from Greek: literally, “unquenched, inextinguishable” from a- a- ⁶ + ��ó�� “quenched, extinguished” (from ��Բ�ý�Բ�� “to quench”); replacing Middle English asbeston, albeston, from Middle French, from Latin

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of asbestos¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Israel's destructive military campaign in Gaza has released a silent killer: asbestos.

From

“At one point we had 95 crews doing nothing but asbestos abatement,” Avichal said.

From

Davis said the company also told her that her policy covered only the ash that blew into her home, not the asbestos contained within it.

From

He used to be a builder and worked with asbestos.

From

As homes, businesses and cars — and the products within them — were incinerated, gases, chemicals, asbestos and other toxic pollutants were released into the air, often settling into soil and dust.

From

as best one can asbestos cement

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