fi·ber (f  b r)n. 1. A slender, elongated, threadlike object or structure. 2. Botany One of the elongated, thick-walled cells that give strength and support to plant tissue. 3. Anatomy a. Any of the filaments constituting the extracellular matrix of connective tissue. b. Any of various elongated cells or threadlike structures, especially a muscle fiber or a nerve fiber. 4. a. A natural or synthetic filament, as of cotton or nylon, capable of being spun into yarn. b. Material made of such filaments. 5. a. Something that provides substance or texture. b. Essential character: "stirred the deeper fibers of my nature" (Oscar Wilde). c. Basic strength or toughness; fortitude: lacking in moral fiber. 6. Coarse, indigestible plant matter, consisting primarily of polysaccharides such as cellulose, that when eaten stimulates intestinal peristalsis. Also called bulk, roughage. [French fibre, from Old French, from Latin fibra.] fi bered adj. |
fiber [ˈfaɪbə]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) the usual US spelling of fibre
| fiber (fbr) 1. The parts of grains, fruits, and vegetables that contain cellulose and are not digested by the body. Fiber helps the intestines absorb water, which increases the bulk of the stool and causes it to move more quickly through the colon. 2. One of the elongated, thick-walled cells, often occurring in bundles, that give strength and support to tissue in vascular plants. Fibers are one type of sclerenchyma cell. 3. Any of the elongated cells of skeletal or cardiac muscle, made up of slender threadlike structures called myofibrils. 4. The axon of a neuron. fibrous adjective |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  fiber - a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarnbyssus, beard - tuft of strong filaments by which e.g. a mussel makes itself fast to a fixed surface bristle - a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic glass fiber, glass fibre, optical fiber, optical fibre - a very thin fiber made of glass that functions as a waveguide for light; used in bundles to transmit images nerve fiber, nerve fibre - a threadlike extension of a nerve cell spindle - (biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle; "chromosomes are distributed by spindles in mitosis and meiosis" loofa, loofah, loufah sponge, luffa - the dried fibrous part of the fruit of a plant of the genus Luffa; used as a washing sponge or strainer cantala, Cebu maguey, manila maguey - hard fiber used in making coarse twine; from Philippine agave plants bassine - coarse leaf fiber from palmyra palms used in making brushes and brooms coir - stiff coarse fiber from the outer husk of a coconut raffia - fiber of a raffia palm used as light cordage and in making hats and baskets material, stuff - the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object; "coal is a hard black material"; "wheat is the stuff they use to make bread" cellulose - a polysaccharide that is the chief constituent of all plant tissues and fibers string - a tough piece of fiber in vegetables, meat, or other food (especially the tough fibers connecting the two halves of a bean pod) lint - fine ravellings of cotton or linen fibers man-made fiber, synthetic fiber - fiber created from natural materials or by chemical processes natural fiber, natural fibre - fiber derived from plants or animals oakum - loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships |
| 2. |  fiber - coarse, indigestible plant food low in nutrients; its bulk stimulates intestinal peristalsisfood product, foodstuff - a substance that can be used or prepared for use as food bran - food prepared from the husks of cereal grains | |
| 3. | fiber - any of several elongated, threadlike cells (especially a muscle fiber or a nerve fiber) cell - (biology) the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; they may exist as independent units of life (as in monads) or may form colonies or tissues as in higher plants and animals muscle cell, muscle fiber, muscle fibre - an elongated contractile cell that forms the muscles of the body nerve fiber, nerve fibre - a threadlike extension of a nerve cell | |
| 4. | fiber - the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions; "education has for its object the formation of character"- Herbert Spencer trait - a distinguishing feature of your personal nature personality - the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual; "their different reactions reflected their very different personalities"; "it is his nature to help others" spirit - a fundamental emotional and activating principle determining one's character thoughtfulness - the trait of thinking carefully before acting responsibleness, responsibility - a form of trustworthiness; the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct; "he holds a position of great responsibility" integrity - moral soundness; "he expects to find in us the common honesty and integrity of men of business"; "they admired his scrupulous professional integrity" | |
| 5. | fiber - a leatherlike material made by compressing layers of paper or cloth |
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