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Asbestos

//æsˈbɛs.tɒs// name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    Former name of Val des Sources: a town in Asbestos, Estrie, Quebec, Canada.
  2. 2
    Former name of Les Sources: a regional county municipality of Eastern Townships, Quebec, Canada.
  3. 3
    Alternative spelling of Asbest; A town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Ural, Russia. alt-of, alternative
Noun
  1. 1
    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. countable, uncountable

    "All types of asbestos are potentially carcinogenic when inhaled."

  2. 2
    a fibrous amphibole; used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer wordnet
  3. 3
    Any of asbestos-like forms of several minerals, asbestiforms countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    The supposed material composing part of the body that is impervious to heat, or by extension other unpleasant sensations; especially hot or spicy food. attributive, colloquial, countable, uncountable

    "She sipped the coffee; she always did have asbestos lips."

Verb
  1. 1
    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.”"

  2. 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."

  3. 3
    To insulate or buffer. figuratively

    "Is Malcolm J. Miller’s South Carolina Sinking Fund partly immune, partly asbestosed, or what?"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Old French abestos, from Latin asbestos, itself from Ancient Greek ἄσβεστος (ásbestos, “unquenchable, inextinguishable”), from ᾰ̓- (ă-, “not”) + σβέννῡμῐ (sbénnūmĭ, “I quench, quell”).

Etymology 2

From Old French abestos, from Latin asbestos, itself from Ancient Greek ἄσβεστος (ásbestos, “unquenchable, inextinguishable”), from ᾰ̓- (ă-, “not”) + σβέννῡμῐ (sbénnūmĭ, “I quench, quell”).

Etymology 3

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)

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