amianthus

[ am-ee-an-thuhs ]

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

Origin of amianthus

1
1660–70; <Latin amiantus<Greek amíantos, equivalent to a-a-6 + mian- (stem of miaínein to defile, make impure) + -tos verbal adjective suffix

Other words from amianthus

  • am·i·an·thine [am-ee-an-thuhn, -thahyn], /ˌæm iˈæn θən, -θaɪn/, adjective
  • am·i·an·thoid, am·i·an·thoi·dal, adjective

Words Nearby amianthus

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How to use amianthus in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for amianthus

amianthus

/ (ˌæmɪˈænθəs) /


noun
  1. any of the fine silky varieties of asbestos

Origin of amianthus

1
C17: from Latin amiantus, from Greek amiantos unsullied, from a- 1 + miainein to pollute

Derived forms of amianthus

  • amianthine, amianthoid or amianthoidal, adjective

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