fiberglass
UK[ˈfaɪbəɡlɑːs]US[ˈfaɪbərɡlæs]
n
a strong, light material made from fine glass threads woven into a fabric or embedded in plastic.
n
a mass of fine glass threads used for making this material or for insulation.
Morpheme Breakdown
fiber
glass
fiber
thread
glass
glass
Etymology
the word 'fiberglass' is a modern compound, transparently combining 'fiber' and 'glass'. 'fiber' traces back to latin 'fibra', likely from a proto-indo-european root meaning 'to split, to cleave', which evolved to denote a thread or filament. 'glass' originates from a common germanic term, old english 'glæs', referring to the hard, brittle, often transparent substance. the compound term, coined in the 20th century, logically describes the material's composition: fine threads (fibers) made of glass, ingeniously combining the flexibility of threads with the strength and insulating properties of glass.
Analysis
Structure: fiber (thread) + glass (glass)
fiber: from latin 'fibra' meaning 'filament, thread, fiber'. functional role: root, denoting the thread-like component.
glass: from old english 'glæs' meaning 'glass'. functional role: root, denoting the material from which the threads are made.
Examples
the boat's hull was reinforced with a layer of fiberglass.
they installed pink fiberglass insulation in the attic to improve energy efficiency.
modern car bodies often use composite materials like carbon fiber and fiberglass.