asbestos

noun as·bes·tos \as-ˈbes-təs, az-\

: a soft gray mineral that does not burn, that was used especially as a building material in the past, and that can cause serious diseases of the lungs when people breathe its dust

Full Definition of ASBESTOS

: any of several minerals (as chrysotile) that readily separate into long flexible fibers, that cause asbestosis and have been implicated as causes of certain cancers, and that have been used especially formerly as fireproof insulating materials

See asbestos defined for English-language learners

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Origin of ASBESTOS

Middle English albeston mineral supposed to be inextinguishable when set on fire, probably from Middle French abeston, from Medieval Latin asbeston, alteration of Latin asbestos, from Greek, unslaked lime, from asbestos inextinguishable, from a- + sbennynai to quench

First Known Use: 1607

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

Rhymes with ASBESTOS

Alcestis, Hephaestus

ASBESTOSES Defined for Kids

asbestos

noun as·bes·tos \as-ˈbes-təs, az-\

Definition of ASBESTOS for Kids

: a grayish mineral that separates easily into long flexible fibers and has been used especially in the past in making fireproof materials

Medical Dictionary

asbestos

noun as·bes·tos \as-ˈbes-təs, az-\

Medical Definition of ASBESTOS

: any of several minerals that readily separate into long flexible fibers, that cause asbestosis and have been implicated as causes of certain cancers, and that have been used especially formerly as fireproof insulating materials