Definition

1. Noun:
   • A strong, woody fiber obtained from plants: "bast fiber" refers to a type of long, strong, and flexible plant fiber. It is specifically obtained from the phloem, which is the inner bark (the "bast") of certain plants, or sometimes from the stems or leaves.

Usage

• Bast fibers are valued for their strength and durability. They are typically used after being separated from the plant's woody core and other tissues through a process called retting.
• This term is primarily used in botanical, agricultural, and textile manufacturing contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Linen is made from the bast fiber of the flax plant.
  • Jute and hemp are important commercial sources of bast fiber.
  • The strength of the rope comes from the bast fibers used in its construction.

Advanced Usage

• "Decorticated bast fiber": Refers to bast fiber that has been separated from the woody core of the plant stalk.
  • The decorticated bast fiber is then cleaned and spun into yarn.

Variants and Related Words

• Bast (n): The fibrous inner bark of certain plants, from which bast fibers are extracted.
  • The craftsman used strips of bast for weaving.
• Phloem fiber (n): A more technical, botanical synonym for bast fiber.
• Soft fiber (n): A category of plant fibers that includes bast fibers, distinguishing them from hard leaf fibers like sisal.

Synonyms

• Plant fiber: A general term for any fiber derived from plants.
• Stem fiber: A fiber obtained from the stems of plants, which includes many bast fibers.

Related Terms (Contextual)

• Retting (n): The process of using moisture to break down plant materials to separate the bast fibers.
  • Water retting is a common method for extracting flax fibers.
• Tow (n): The shorter, coarser fibers that are separated from the longer, finer bast fibers during processing.

Noun

1. strong woody fibers obtained especially from the phloem of from various plants