Fiberglass
/ˈfaɪbərɡlæs/
Definitions
A material made from fine fibers of glass, used for insulation, reinforcement, and other applications.
/ˈfaɪbərɡlæs/
A material made of extremely fine fibers of glass.
The insulation in the attic was made of fiberglass.
💡 Simply: Imagine a material made of super-thin, stringy glass. It's like a bunch of glass threads all tangled up. Fiberglass is great for making things strong, like boat hulls, or for keeping your house warm because it traps heat.
👶 For kids: It's a kind of material that looks like tiny pieces of glass mixed together. It's strong and used to make things like boats and keep houses warm.
More Examples
The car's body was reinforced with fiberglass.
Fiberglass is a common material for making surfboards.
How It's Used
"Fiberglass is often used as insulation in walls and ceilings."
"The boat hull was constructed from fiberglass."
"Fiberglass composites are used in aircraft design for lightweight strength."
Fiberglass is a compound word. 'Fiber' refers to the material's fibrous structure, while 'glass' indicates the primary component. Developed in the mid-20th century, it emerged from research into glass fibers and their applications, particularly for insulation and reinforcement.
Fiberglass began to see widespread adoption in the mid-20th century, replacing earlier materials in various industries.
Memory tip
Think of tiny glass threads woven together to make something strong or to keep heat in.
Word Origin
"Fiber - threadlike material. Glass - a hard, brittle, typically transparent substance."