fiber
fi·ber
FEYE-buh
Also spelled fibre (UK spelling)
Fiber (noun) means a thin, thread-like strand of material, often twisted together with others to make thread or cloth. Example: “Cotton fibers are spun together to make a soft, strong yarn.”
noun
1
A thin, thread-like strand of material, often twisted together with others to make thread or cloth.
"Cotton fibers are spun together to make a soft, strong yarn."
"Under the microscope, each fiber in the sweater looked like a tiny hair."
"The rope is made from tightly woven synthetic fiber."
2
The indigestible part of plant food that helps digestion.
"My doctor told me to eat more fiber to keep my digestion healthy."
"Beans, apples and oats are all rich in dietary fiber."
"Whole grains and vegetables are good sources of fiber."
3
Inner strength or moral resolve.
"Her quiet fiber carried the whole team through the hardest weeks of the season."
"Raising a family alone showed the kind of fiber most people never have to find."
"It takes real fiber to admit you were wrong."
How to use fiber
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thread-like strand of material, dietary roughage, or figurative moral strength.
UK vs US
American English spells it "fiber"; British English spells it "fibre."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
dietary fiber
optical fiber
moral fiber
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Word forms
- Plural
- fibers
Fill the gap
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Cotton _____ are spun together to make a soft, strong yarn.
Etymology
From French fibre, from Latin fibra.
Related words
Rhymes for fiber
See all rhymes for fiber →Frequently asked questions
What does “fiber” mean?
The word “fiber” means a thin, thread-like strand of material, often twisted together with others to make thread or cloth. In plain terms, a thread-like strand of material, dietary roughage, or figurative moral strength.
How do you pronounce “fiber”?
“Fiber” is pronounced FEYE-buh (/ˈfaɪ.bɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fiber” in a sentence?
Here is “fiber” used in a sentence: “The rope is made from tightly woven synthetic fiber.”
What part of speech is “fiber”?
“Fiber” is a noun.
Where does the word “fiber” come from?
The word “fiber” comes from Latin. From French fibre, from Latin fibra.
Is “fiber” a common word?
“Fiber” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “fiber” have?
“Fiber” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin, thread-like strand of material, often twisted together with others to make thread or cloth.
What is the difference between fiber and fibre?
They are the same word with the same meanings: fiber is the American spelling and fibre is the British spelling. The difference applies to every sense, whether you are writing about textile fibers, dietary fiber, or moral fiber.
What is the difference between fiber and thread?
A fiber is a single thin, thread-like strand of material, while thread is what you get when multiple fibers are twisted together. In other words, fibers are the raw component and thread is the finished product used for sewing or weaving.
Is fiber the same as roughage?
In everyday use, yes. Both refer to the indigestible part of plant foods that helps digestion. Roughage is the older, more informal term, while fiber (or dietary fiber) is the standard word in nutrition labeling and health writing.
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