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fiber

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The definition of a fiber is a thin, threadlike structure that combines to form animal or plant tissue, or a thin, threadlike structure made synthetically or from minerals.

(noun)

An example of fiber is what is found in asparagus.
An example of fiber is a thread in a ball of rayon yarn.

See fiber in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

1. a slender, threadlike structure that combines with others to form animal or vegetable tissue
2. the tissue so formed: muscle fiber
a slender, threadlike structure made from a mineral or synthetically: rayon fibers
1. any substance that can be separated into threads or threadlike structures for spinning, weaving, etc.: cotton fiber
2. any such thread or structure: wool fibers
a threadlike root
the texture of something: a fabric of coarse fiber
character or nature; quality: a man of strong moral fiber
roughage

Origin: Fr fibre < L fibra, akin to filum, thread: see file

Related Forms:

fiberlike adjective

See fiber in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A slender, elongated, threadlike object or structure.
Botany One of the elongated, thick-walled cells that give strength and support to plant tissue.
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.
a. A natural or synthetic filament, as of cotton or nylon, capable of being spun into yarn.
b. Material made of such filaments.
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.
Coarse, indigestible plant matter, consisting primarily of polysaccharides such as cellulose, that when eaten stimulates intestinal peristalsis. Also called bulk, roughage.