Dictionary

asbestos en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /æz-/ (General-American)
• /æsˈbɛs.tɒs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /-toʊs/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio
• /əs-/ (General-American)
• /æsˈbɛs.təs/ (General-American)
• /æzˈbɛs.təs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /əz-/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /æsˈbɛs.təs/ (Received-Pronunciation)

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. Classical Latin asbestoslbor. English asbestos Learned borrowing from Classical Latin asbestos, borrowed from Ancient Greek ἄσβεστος (ásbestos), from ἀ- (a-) + σβεστός (sbestós). Compare Middle English asbestus and Old French abestos.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) 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.
   • Consul Baker, of Antung, China, states that valuable deposits of asbestos have been found in the vicinity of Kuantien, a small town lying about 45 miles northeast of Antung.[…]There are three mines now in operation, each employing about 30 workers. These workers, however, are mostly farmers who devote only their spare time to mining and use simply hammers and chisels and gather only the asbestos which lies near the surface. 1913 February, “Asbestos Mines in China”, in Mines and Minerals, volume XXXIII, number 7, Scranton, PA, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 398, column 3:
   • Insulation against sound and changes in external temperature is given by a thickness of asbestos on the inside of the panels. 1946 November and December, “New L.M.S.R. Royal Coaches”, in Railway Magazine, page 371:
   • Asbestos insulation was once ubiquitous.
2. (countable, uncountable) Any of asbestos-like forms of several minerals, asbestiforms
3. (attributive, colloquial, countable, uncountable) 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. 2013 December 17, Tom Holt, When It's A Jar: YouSpace Book 2, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
   • 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. 2014 May 29, Bernard Veale, Read My Lips, Andrews UK Limited, →ISBN:
   • "Yikes!" I yelped. "This water is scalding!" Lena explained to me that she had asbestos hands. Since it was obvious that I did not have asbestos hands, I offered to dry rather than wash. 2020 October 13, Valérie Falzo, Extraordinary Souls I Have Known, Covenant Books, Inc., →ISBN:
   • Dad plucks the steamed Chinese charcuterie out with his asbestos fingers, places it on the wooden circular chopping board and begins slicing it into bite-size pieces before returning it to the pot. 2022 July 21, Angela Hui, Takeaway: Stories from a childhood behind the counter, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

Forms

Coordinates

amianthus

Deriveds

asbestic · asbestinite · asbestification · asbestoid · asbestify · asbestos cement · asbestosis · asbestine · asbestise · white asbestos · asbestosize · blue asbestos · asbestiform · asbestous · asbestize · green asbestos · asbestiferous · brown asbestos · common asbestos · asbestization · nonasbestos · asbestite · asbestoslike · asbestosization · asbestosless

Hyponyms

serpentine: parachrysotile (forms of magnesium silicate) · common asbestos · riebeckite (amphibole) · tremolite (amphibole) · tremolite asbestos (amphibole) · anthophyllite asbestos (amphibole) · amianthus · amosite (amphibole) · blue asbestos (amphibole) · chrysotile · brown asbestos (amphibole) · crocidolite (amphibole) · winchite (asbestiform) · richterite (asbestiform) · actinolite asbestos (amphibole) · anthophyllite (amphibole) · actinolite (amphibole)

Translations (70)

de Asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · id asbes (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ml ആസ്ബസ്റ്റോസ് (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · nn asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · sq amiant (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · bg а́збест (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · is asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · sw asbestosi (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · uk азбе́ст (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · he אזבסט (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · sl azbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · sh а̀збест (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · fi asbesti (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ar أَسْبِسْت (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · pt asbesto (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · km អាស្ប៊ែស (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · sh àzbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · pt amianto (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ca amiant (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · pl azbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · it amianto (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ka აზბესტი (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · sv asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · uz asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · nv doołikoní (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · vi miăng (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · cmn 石棉 (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · th แร่ใยหิน (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · lt asbestas (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · hy ազբեստ (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · da asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · kk талшықтас (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · hu azbeszt (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · sk azbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · my ကျောက်ဂွမ်း (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · vi amiăng (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · eo asbesto (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ko 애스베스터스 (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · sq asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · nb asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · et asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ia asbesto (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ms asbestos (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ja アスベスト (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · el αμίαντος (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · mi tēpoko (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · cs azbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · af asbes (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ar أَمْيانْت (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · mn асбест (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · fr amiante (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ca asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · it asbesto (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · tr asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · fa آزبست (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · es amianto (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ko 석면 (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · kk асбес (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ro azbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · tl asbesto (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ga aispeiste (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · fa پنبه نسوز (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ar أَسْبِسْتُوس (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ta கல்நார் (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ga aispeist (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ru асбе́ст (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · es asbesto (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · lv azbests (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · ja 石綿 (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate) · nl asbest (any of several fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate)

asbestos en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /æz-/ (General-American)
• /æsˈbɛs.tɒs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /-toʊs/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio
• /əs-/ (General-American)
• /æsˈbɛs.təs/ (General-American)
• /æzˈbɛs.təs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /əz-/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /æsˈbɛs.təs/ (Received-Pronunciation)

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. Classical Latin asbestoslbor. English asbestos Learned borrowing from Classical Latin asbestos, borrowed from Ancient Greek ἄσβεστος (ásbestos), from ἀ- (a-) + σβεστός (sbestós). Compare Middle English asbestus and Old French abestos.

Meanings

1. To coat or line with asbestos.
   • Since low temperature is prevailing in hilly regions, tiled or asbestosed houses can be used to raise the room temperature. 1996, Kisan World, volume 23, page 55, column 1:
   • The other day one of the men doing the asbestosing on the acid retorts fell in a sulphuric sedimentation tank. 1969, Peter Such, Fallout, House of Anansi Press, page 62:
   • Alginate impressions of the “asbestosed” casts are then made and poured in plaster of paris. 1973, International Journal of Orthodontics, volume 11, page 56, column 2:
   • CLASS Nos. 26035 and 26038 have been de-asbestosed by MC Metals, of Glasgow, ready for their move to the South Yorkshire Railway at Meadowhall. 1995, The Railway Magazine, volume 141, page 32, column 2:
   • 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. 1924, International Stereotypers' and Electrotypers’ Union Journal, volume 19, page 22, column 1:
   • “Be sure you have plenty of kindling before you begin. They are rather non-inflammable and well asbestosed, so to speak.” 1919, The Saturday Evening Post, volume 192, page 93, column 4:
   • He actually was inside the asbestosed box buried under a roaring fire. 1986, John Booth, Wonders of Magic: A Veteran Magician’s Book of Original Tricks, Concepts, Pictures, Memoirs, and Conjuring History, Ridgeway Press, →ISBN, page 116:
   • Though respectable ladies thought him a rake, He red-leaded Mrs. Brown’s gutter and spout And asbestosed the furnace for Mrs. Stout, And oh, the six weeks he spent refluing The winter home of Mrs. Hewing! 1961, Midwest, page 11:
   • Now Bush wondered / If the collapse of the three buildings could / Somehow be linked to an insurance scam / To win a fortune from asbestosed steel. 2010, Nicholas Hagger, “Book One: September 11th: America under Attack”, “Invocations to Homer, Milton, Heath-Stubbs, Woodrow Wilson and Roosevelt”, in Armageddon: The Triumph of Universal Order: An Epic Poem on The War on Terror and of Holy-War Crusaders, O Books, →ISBN, page 45:
   • Q. And you considered asbestosing the interior as part of your job, is that correct? A. That’s right. 1960, Records & Briefs, New York, page 538:
   • Compound (I) (1.5 g.) and benzaldehyde (1.1 g.) were refluxed in glacial acetic acid (30-35 ml.) in presence of fused sodium acetate (2.6 g.) on an asbestosed wire gauge for 3 hr. 1966, Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, page 658:
   • Under Barroso, Commissioners were re-housed together in the new, refurbished (de-asbestosed) Berlaymont building in central Brussels. 2008, John Peterson, Andrea Birdsall, “4. The European Commission: enlargement as reinvention?”, in Edward Best, Thomas Christiansen, Pierpaolo Settembri, editors, The Institutions of the Enlarged European Union: Continuity and Change, Edward Elgar Publishing, page 61:
2. 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. 1990, The Nairobi Law Monthly, page 2, column 3:
3. (figuratively) To insulate or buffer.
   • Not enough if you / garlanded me before twenty, / asbestosed me several times / around the conjugal fire. 1995, Tejdeep, Caught in a Stampede, Sterling Publishers, →ISBN, page 110:
   • Is Malcolm J. Miller’s South Carolina Sinking Fund partly immune, partly asbestosed, or what? 1922, The Insurance Press, volume 54, page 6, column 3:
   • Like the house, I’d had my shiny youth of new love, my stuccoed divorce, my asbestosed fallout of pipe pain and dry-rot, my ill-conceived disco years, and my disastrous mid-life reno. 2017, Karl Meade, Odd Jobs: Misadventures of the Copy-Cat Cat Burglars, FriesenPress, →ISBN:
   • Whatever air’s asbestosing the prayers / Of this sparse April parlour must splutter / To dust until it dismantles itself. 1992, Chapman, →ISBN, page 84:

Forms