fiber-optic
UK[ˌfaɪ.bərˈɒp.tɪk]US[ˌfaɪ.bɚˈɑːp.tɪk]
adj
Relating to or using thin glass or plastic threads (fibers) that carry information in the form of light signals.
Morpheme Breakdown
fiber
optic
fiber
thread
optic
relating to sight or light
Etymology
The term is a modern compound, fusing two classical roots to describe a revolutionary technology. "Fiber" derives from the Latin 'fibra', originally meaning a filament or thread, which evolved to describe the slender glass strands at the heart of the technology. "Optic" originates from the Greek 'optikos', pertaining to sight or vision, which broadened in scientific use to encompass the properties and behavior of light itself. The compound "fiber-optic" thus logically constructs the concept of "threads for light," precisely capturing the method of transmitting data as pulses of light through transparent fibers.
Analysis
Structure: fiber (thread) + optic (relating to sight or light)
fiber: From Latin 'fibra' (filament, entrails), via French. In this compound, it denotes a thin, thread-like strand of glass or plastic.
optic: From Greek 'optikos' (of or for sight), via Latin and French. In this compound, it denotes a relationship to light and its transmission.
Examples
Fiber-optic cables have revolutionized long-distance telecommunications.
The internet backbone relies heavily on fiber-optic networks for high-speed data transfer.
The surgeon used a thin fiber-optic scope to examine the internal tissue.