Noun: asbestos az'bes-tus or as'bes-tus [N. Amer], as'bes,tós or az'bes,tós [Brit]
- A fibrous amphibole used for making fireproof articles; inhaling fibers can cause asbestosis or lung cancer
"Many old buildings still contain asbestos insulation"
Derived forms: asbestoses
Type of: amphibole
Part of: amphibole group
Encyclopedia: Asbestos, amphibole