- a fibrous mineral, either amphibole or chrysotile, formerly used for making incombustible or fireproof articles.
- a fabric woven from asbestos fibers, formerly used for theater curtains, firefighters' gloves, etc.
- a fireproof curtain.
- any of the fibrous amphibole and serpentine minerals, esp chrysotile and tremolite, that are incombustible and resistant to chemicals. It was formerly widely used in the form of fabric or board as a heat-resistant structural material
- (as modifier)
