Definition

1. Noun:
   • A slender, thread-like structure: A natural or synthetic strand that is significantly longer than it is wide, often used to make textiles, rope, or paper.
   • A thread-like cell in an organism: Any of various elongated cells in animals or plants, such as those in muscle or nerve tissue.
   • Dietary material: The indigestible part of plant foods that aids in digestion.
   • Essential character or strength: The inherent structure or fundamental nature of something, often referring to moral or physical toughness.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Cotton fibre is soft and breathable.
  • A nerve fibre transmits signals throughout the body.
  • Eating foods high in fibre is good for your health.
  • The moral fibre of the community was tested during the crisis.

Advanced Usage

• "fibre of one's being": The most fundamental part of a person's character or nature.

  • Honesty was woven into the very fibre of his being.

• "to lack fibre": To lack strength of character or moral courage.

  • The critic accused the politician of lacking the fibre to make tough decisions.

Variants and Related Words

• Fiber (noun): The American English spelling of 'fibre'.
• Fibrous (adj): Consisting of or resembling fibres.
  • The meat was tough and fibrous.
• Fibreboard (n): A building material made of compressed wood fibres.
• Fibreglass (n): A material consisting of extremely fine glass fibres, used for insulation or to make various products.

Synonyms

• Filament: A fine thread or thread-like structure.
• Strand: A single thin length of thread, fibre, or wire.
• Thread: A long, thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other fibres used in sewing or weaving.
• Character: The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual (for the metaphorical sense).

Related Phrases

• Dietary fibre: The indigestible portion of food derived from plants.
  • Whole grains are an excellent source of dietary fibre.
• Muscle fibre: A single muscle cell.
  • Fast-twitch muscle fibres are used for powerful movements.
• Optical fibre: A thin glass or plastic strand used to transmit light for telecommunications.
  • The internet connection uses high-speed optical fibre.

Related Idioms

• To be cut from the same cloth/fibre: To be very similar in nature or character.
  • The two brothers are cut from the same cloth; both are incredibly stubborn.
• The fabric/fibre of society: The underlying structure and values that hold a society together.
  • Trust is a vital part of the fabric of society.

Noun

1. a leatherlike material made by compressing layers of paper or cloth
2. the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions
   • education has for its object the formation of character- Herbert Spencer
3. any of several elongated, threadlike cells (especially a muscle fiber or a nerve fiber)
4. a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn