asbestos

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: as=bes=tos

CIDE DICTIONARY

asbestos, n. [L. asbestos (NL. asbestus) a kind of mineral unaffected by fire, Gr. (prop. an adj.) inextinguishable; 'a priv. + to extinguish.].

 A variety of amphibole or of pyroxene, occurring in long and delicate fibers, or in fibrous masses or seams, usually of a white, gray, or green-gray color. The name is also given to a similar variety of serpentine.  [1913 Webster]
" The finer varieties have been wrought into gloves and cloth which are incombustible. The cloth was formerly used as a shroud for dead bodies, and has been recommended for firemen's clothes. Asbestus in also employed in the manufacture of iron safes, for fireproof roofing, and for lampwicks. Some varieties are called amianthus. Dana."  Dana.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

asbestos, n.
1 a fibrous silicate mineral that is incombustible.
2 this used as a heat-resistant or insulating material.

Derivative

asbestine adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF albeston, ult. f. Gk asbestos unquenchable f. a- not + sbestos f. sbennumi quench

THESAURUS

asbestos

act drop, amianthus, asbestos board, asbestos curtain, backdrop, batten, border, cloth, coulisse, counterweight, curtain, curtain board, cyclorama, decor, drop, drop curtain, earth flax, fire break, fire curtain, fire line, fire resistance, fire retardant, fire wall, fireproofing, flat, flipper, hanging, mountain flax, rag, scene, scenery, screen, side scene, stage screw, tab, tableau, teaser, tormentor, transformation, transformation scene, wing, wingcut, woodcut

ROGET THESAURUS

asbestos

Insulation

N insulation, fire extinction, insulation, incombustible material, noncombustible material, fire retardant, flame retardant, fire wall, fire door, incombustibility, incombustibleness, extincteur, fire annihilator, amianth, amianthus, earth-flax, mountain-flax, asbestos, fireman, fire fighter, fire eater, fire department, fire brigade, engine company, pumper, fire truck, hook and ladder, aerial ladder, bucket, fire hose, fire hydrant, backfire, firebreak, trench, aerial water bombardment, wet blanket, fire extinguisher, soda and acid extinguisher, dry chemical extinguisher, CO-two extinguisher, carbon tetrachloride, foam, sprinklers, automatic sprinkler system, fire bucket, sand bucket, fire alarm, evacuation alarm, fire code, fire regulations, fire, fire inspector, code violation, citation, incombustible, nonflammable, uninflammable, unflammable, fireproof, fight fire with fire.