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amianthus

 - 2 dictionary results

am⋅i⋅an⋅thus

  [am-ee-an-thuhs]
Use amianthus in a Sentence
–noun Mineralogy.
a fine variety of asbestos, with delicate, flexible filaments.
Origin:
1660–70; < L amiantus < Gk amíantos, equiv. to a- a- 6 + mian- (s. of miaínein to defile, make impure) + -tos verbal adj. suffix

Related forms:
am⋅i⋅an⋅thine  [am-ee-an-thuhn, -thahyn] , adjective
am⋅i⋅an⋅thoid, am⋅i⋅an⋅thoi⋅dal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To amianthus
am·i·an·thus   (ām'ē-ān'thəs)   
n.  An asbestos with fine, silky fibers.

[Latin amiantus, from Greek amiantos, undefiled : a-, not; see a-1 + miantos, defiled (from miainein, to defile).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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