fibre
UK[ˈfaɪbə]US[ˈfaɪbər]
n
A thread-like structure that forms body tissues, such as muscle or nerve.
n
A thin thread of a natural or artificial substance, used to make cloth, rope, etc.
n
The parts of plants that you eat but cannot digest, which help food to move through your body.
Morpheme Breakdown
fibr
e
fibr
thread, filament
e
silent letter, often a spelling convention
Etymology
The word 'fibre' traces its lineage directly to the Latin fibra, meaning a filament or a thread, particularly of biological origin like a nerve or plant vessel. This Latin term is thought to be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root dʰgʷʰi-, meaning 'to spin, to weave', which also gives us words like 'filament'. The conceptual journey is remarkably direct: from the ancient idea of a spun thread, the meaning expanded in English to encompass any slender, thread-like structure, whether in anatomy, textiles, or nutrition. The modern abstract sense of 'moral fibre' extends this physical metaphor to denote inner strength and character.
Analysis
Structure: fibr (thread, filament) + e (silent letter, often a spelling convention)
'fibr' originates from Latin fibra, meaning 'filament, entrails'. It functions as the core root conveying the sense of a thread-like structure. The final 'e' is a silent letter, a common feature in English spelling that often indicates the preceding vowel is long or distinguishes the word from another.
Examples
Dietary fibre is essential for a healthy digestive system.
The fabric is woven from synthetic fibres for extra durability.
The nerve fibres transmit signals from the brain to the muscles.