fiber English · revision 10320

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=late 14th century|origins=fr fibre|origins=la fibra}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfaɪ.bə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈfaɪ.bɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from French [[m|fr|fibre]], with Medieval Latin fibre,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Latin [[m|la|fibra|t=a fibre, filament; entrails]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) of uncertain origin, perhaps related to fīlum, a thread (see [[file]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) or to findere, to split.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A lobe of the liver, also entrails: the late 14th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) a threadlike part in 1540, as fibre.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A threadlike structure in animal bodies is from about 1600, and in plants from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) Figurative use for force or toughness of character is from the 1630s,^(Etymonline) though Barnhart first records it in 1855.^(Barnhart 1988) Textile material is from 1827.^(Etymonline) ''Fibrous'' is from 1626, in Bacon,^(Barnhart 1988) ''fiberboard'' from 1897,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Fiberglas'', a United States trademark, from 1937, generic ''fiberglass'' by 1941,^(Etymonline) and ''fiber optics'' from 1956.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Fiber is the usual American spelling.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 14th century – a lobe of the liver.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1540 – a threadlike part.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1600 – a fibre in the body.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1630s – strength of character.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1827 – textile material.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1937 – Fiberglas.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1956 – fiber optics.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A slender, threadlike structure or object; a [[filament]].^(AHD)

+ # A thread that can be spun into yarn, or a material made of such threads.^(AHD)

+ # One of the long, thick-walled cells that strengthen plant tissue, or an elongated cell in animal tissue, such as a muscle or nerve fiber.^(AHD)

+ # Indigestible plant matter in food; dietary fiber.^(Wiktionary)

+ # Essential character, quality or strength: ''moral fiber''.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[fibered]]

+ * [[fiberless]]

+ * [[defiber]]

+ * [[fiberboard]]

+ * [[fiberfill]]

+ * [[fiberglass]]

+ * [[fiberize]]

+ * [[fiberoptic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fibril]]

+ * [[fibro-]]

+ * [[fibroblast]]

+ * [[fibroid]]

+ * [[fibroma]]

+ * [[fibrosis]]

+ * [[fibrositis]]

+ * [[fibrovascular]]

+ * [[fibre]]

+ * [[fibrous]]

+ * [[file]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Fiber is the usual United States spelling, fibre the British.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}