fibre
FEYE-buh
Also spelled fiber (US spelling)
Fibre (noun) means a thin, thread-like strand of material, often twisted together with others to make thread or cloth. Example: “The jacket is woven from a synthetic fibre.”
noun
1
A thin, thread-like strand of material, often twisted together with others to make thread or cloth.
"The jacket is woven from a synthetic fibre."
"Cotton fibre is spun into yarn before it is woven into cloth."
"Each rope is made from many strong fibres twisted tightly together."
2
The indigestible part of plant food that helps digestion.
"Doctors recommend more fibre in your diet."
"Beans, oats and apples are all good sources of fibre."
"Eating enough fibre keeps your digestion working smoothly."
3
Inner strength or moral resolve.
"She showed real fibre standing up to her boss."
"It takes real fibre to admit your mistake in front of everyone."
"The team's moral fibre showed when they kept going after the heavy defeat."
How to use fibre
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thread-like strand of material, dietary roughage, or figurative moral strength — the British spelling of "fiber."
UK vs US
British English spells it "fibre"; American English spells it "fiber."
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Word forms
- Plural
- fibres
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The jacket is woven from a synthetic _____.
Etymology
From French fibre, ultimately from Latin fibra.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for fibre
See all rhymes for fibre →Frequently asked questions
What does “fibre” mean?
The word “fibre” 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 — the British spelling of "fiber.".
How do you pronounce “fibre”?
“Fibre” is pronounced FEYE-buh (/ˈfaɪ.bə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “fibre” in a sentence?
Here is “fibre” used in a sentence: “The jacket is woven from a synthetic fibre.”
What part of speech is “fibre”?
“Fibre” is a noun.
Where does the word “fibre” come from?
The word “fibre” comes from Latin. From French fibre, ultimately from Latin fibra.
Is “fibre” a common word?
“Fibre” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “fibre” have?
“Fibre” 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 fibre and fiber?
Fibre and fiber refer to the same word and meanings; fibre is the standard spelling in British English, while fiber is the standard American English spelling. Both cover the thread-like strand sense, the dietary sense, and the moral-strength sense.
What is the difference between dietary fibre and thread fibre?
Dietary fibre refers to the indigestible part of plant food that aids digestion, found in foods like vegetables and whole grains. Thread or textile fibre refers to a thin, thread-like strand of material twisted together with others to make thread or cloth, an unrelated physical sense of the word.
What does it mean to say someone has moral fibre?
Having moral fibre means possessing inner strength or moral resolve, especially the ability to stay firm and principled under pressure. This figurative sense extends from the idea of fibres giving physical material its strength and cohesion.
