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amianthus

[ am-ee-an-thuh s ]
/ ˌæm iˈæn θəs /
|

noun Mineralogy.

a fine variety of asbestos, with delicate, flexible filaments.

Nearby words

  1. amherst,
  2. ami,
  3. amiability,
  4. amiable,
  5. amianthoid,
  6. amic,
  7. amicability,
  8. amicable,
  9. amicable number,
  10. amicably

Origin of amianthus

1660–70; < Latin amiantus < Greek amíantos, equivalent to a- a-6 + mian- (stem of miaínein to defile, make impure) + -tos verbal adjective suffix
Related formsam·i·an·thine [am-ee-an-thuh n, -thahyn] /ˌæm iˈæn θən, -θaɪn/, adjectiveam·i·an·thoid, am·i·an·thoi·dal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for amianthus

British Dictionary definitions for amianthus

amianthus

/ (ˌæmɪˈænθəs) /

noun

any of the fine silky varieties of asbestos
Derived Formsamianthine, amianthoid or amianthoidal, adjective

Word Origin for amianthus

C17: from Latin amiantus, from Greek amiantos unsullied, from a- 1 + miainein to pollute
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012