fiberglass

Or fi·ber glass

[fahy-ber-glas, -glahs]

noun

1. a material consisting of extremely fine filaments of glass that are combined in yarn and woven into fabrics, used in masses as a thermal and acoustical insulator, or embedded in various resins to make boat hulls, fishing rods, and the like.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover or form with fiberglass.

verb (used without object)

1. to use or work with fiberglass.

fiberglass

1. A material made up of very fine fibers of glass. Fiberglass is resistant to heat and fire and is used to make various products, such as building insulation and boat hulls. Because the fibers in fiberglass are capable of transmitting light around curves, fiberglass is an important component of fiber optics.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fiberglass¹

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; fiber + glass

Example Sentences

The Charter Communications network is made of fiber-optic cables, created from fiberglass and plastic, which deliver faster internet speeds, require less maintenance and don’t have resale value.

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Made from sleek ceramic epoxy over fiberglass, the stacked dishes are piled tilting this way and that.

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Traffickers deploy everything from fast-moving fiberglass boats to stealthy “narco-subs” to cargo ships to get their products to users without losing shipments to seizures or couriers to arrest.

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A spider can flick off irritating hairs from the backside of its abdomen, which feel like fiberglass or minute cactus spines.

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Materials such as foam, latex, fiberglass and a variety of metals and plastics have gone into their colorful creations.

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