asbestos
Plural: asbesti, asbestoses
Noun
- A fibrous, heat-resistant silicate mineral.
- a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
- Any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate, used for fireproofing, electrical insulation, building materials, brake linings, chemical filters, suits, fireman's gloves, etc.
- Any of asbestos-like forms of several minerals, asbestiforms
- The supposed material composing part of the body that is impervious to heat, or by extension other unpleasant sensations; especially hot or spicy food.
Verb
- To coat or line with asbestos.
- To expose to asbestos; to cause to suffer asbestosis.
- To insulate or buffer.
Examples
- All types of asbestos are potentially carcinogenic when inhaled.
- Asbestos insulation was once ubiquitous.
- His defense was like ASBESTOS, fireproof and blocking all my best moves.
Origin / Etymology
From Old French abestos, from Latin asbestos, itself from Ancient Greek ἄσβεστος (ásbestos, “unquenchable, inextinguishable”), from ᾰ̓- (ă-, “not”) + σβέννῡμῐ (sbénnūmĭ, “I quench, quell”).
Scrabble Score: 10
asbestos: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordasbestos: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
asbestos: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 11
asbestos: valid Words With Friends Word