Definition

1. Noun:
   • A very thin fiber made of glass that functions as a waveguide for light: "glass fibre" refers to a single, extremely fine strand of glass designed to transmit light along its length through internal reflection.
   • A material used in bundles to transmit images: The term also describes this material when used in organized bundles, such as in fiber optic cables or medical endoscopes, for the purpose of transmitting light signals or visual information.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The cable is made from thousands of strands of glass fibre.
  • Light travels through the glass fibre with minimal loss of intensity.
  • The surgeon used a bundle of glass fibre to see inside the patient's body.

Advanced Usage

• As a component in composite materials: While the core definition pertains to light transmission, "glass fibre" is also a key component in fiberglass (a distinct compound word), which is used for insulation and reinforcement. This usage is related but refers to the material's structural, not optical, properties.
  • The boat's hull was reinforced with glass fibre for added strength.

Variants and Related Words

• Optical fiber (n): A more common technical synonym, especially in telecommunications contexts.
• Fiber optic (adj): Pertaining to the technology that uses glass fibres, as in "fiber optic cable."
• Fiberglass (n): A compound material consisting of glass fibres embedded in resin, used for structural purposes. This is a distinct term from the target word "glass fibre."

Synonyms

• Light guide: A descriptive term emphasizing the function.
• Optical waveguide: A technical term for a structure that guides light waves.

Related Phrases

• Glass fibre bundle: A collection of many glass fibres used together to transmit an image or data.
• Glass fibre cable: A protected assembly containing glass fibres for long-distance signal transmission.

Noun

1. a very thin fiber made of glass that functions as a waveguide for light; used in bundles to transmit images