asbestos

American  

[as-bes-tuhs, az-] / æsˈbɛs təs, æz- /

Or asbestus

noun

1. Mineralogy. a fibrous mineral, either amphibole or chrysotile, formerly used for making incombustible or fireproof articles.

2. a fabric woven from asbestos fibers, formerly used for theater curtains, firefighters' gloves, etc.

3. Theater. a fireproof curtain.

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asbestos British  

/ -təs, æsˈbɛstɒs /

noun

1. 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

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asbestos Scientific  

/ ăs-bĕs′təs /

1. 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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Other Word Forms

• asbestine adjective
• asbestoid adjective
• asbestoidal adjective
• asbestous adjective
• nonasbestine adjective

Etymology

Origin of asbestos

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

Example Sentences

A private company has quoted him £20,000 to clear the site, which would include fees to test the waste for contaminants such as asbestos.

From BBC

The Maryland woman, Cherie Craft, claimed Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder exposed her to asbestos, leading to her diagnosis of mesothelioma in January 2024.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We should have a similar campaign with tanning bed usage. The World Health Organization has deemed tanning beds to be the same level of carcinogen as smoking and asbestos. It's a class one carcinogen."

From Science Daily

The family of a man who died from cancer caused by asbestos exposure can claim damages from his former employer Scottish Power, the Supreme Court has ruled.

From BBC

Hazardous materials such as asbestos, broken fittings and other non-recyclable items are disposed of separately.

From The Wall Street Journal