asbestos
noun
- group of highly stable, non-flammable silicate minerals with a fibrous structure
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /æsˈbɛs.tɒs/ / /æsˈbɛs.təs/ / /æzˈbɛs.təs/
name
Etymology: From asbestos, from Old French abestos. * (Asbestos, Quebec): Named by the Royal Mail for the asbestos mines the mining settlement was setup for, when Canada was still a colony of Britain. The county was named for the town. * (Asbestos, Russia): English for the Russian term for asbestos, асбест (asbest)
- Former name of Val des Sources: a town in Asbestos, Estrie, Quebec, Canada.
- Former name of Les Sources: a regional county municipality of Eastern Townships, Quebec, Canada.
- Alternative spelling of Asbest; A town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Ural, Russia.
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-) Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷes-der.? Ancient Greek σβέννῡμῐ (sbénnūmĭ) Ancient Greek σβεστός (sbestós) Ancient Greek ἄσβεστος (ásbestos)bor. Latin asbestosbor. Old French abestosder. English asbestos From Old French abestos, from Latin asbestos, itself from Ancient Greek ἄσβεστος (ásbestos, “unquenchable, inextinguishable”), from ᾰ̓- (ă-, “not”) + σβέννῡμῐ (sbénnūmĭ, “to quench, quell”).
- 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.
“All types of asbestos are potentially carcinogenic when inhaled.”
“Asbestos insulation was once ubiquitous.”
- 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.
“She sipped the coffee; she always did have asbestos lips.”
“They were exceptionally good and were accompanied by a chili sauce that had to be eaten with great caution unless you had an asbestos tongue but was nonetheless delicious.”
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-) Proto-Indo-European *(s)gʷes-der.? Ancient Greek σβέννῡμῐ (sbénnūmĭ) Ancient Greek σβεστός (sbestós) Ancient Greek ἄσβεστος (ásbestos)bor. Latin asbestosbor. Old French abestosder. English asbestos From Old French abestos, from Latin asbestos, itself from Ancient Greek ἄσβεστος (ásbestos, “unquenchable, inextinguishable”), from ᾰ̓- (ă-, “not”) + σβέννῡμῐ (sbénnūmĭ, “to quench, quell”).
- To coat or line with asbestos.
““Be sure you have plenty of kindling before you begin. They are rather non-inflammable and well asbestosed, so to speak.””
“The latter department will be asbestosed without according to the idea of Professor Swain, whose deductions are that you should wear an overcoat in summer for the reason that what will keep out the cold will keep out the heat.”
- To expose to asbestos; to cause to suffer asbestosis.
“Lungs asbestosed / unable to breath^([sic]) / and so incapable / of producing for profit / sent away without delay / so a fresh lunged / could occupy / the vacant place.”
- To insulate or buffer.
“Is Malcolm J. Miller’s South Carolina Sinking Fund partly immune, partly asbestosed, or what?”
“Whatever air’s asbestosing the prayers / Of this sparse April parlour must splutter / To dust until it dismantles itself.”