Definition

Noun: - A man-made textile material: A fiber created not by nature, but through industrial chemical processes, typically from petroleum-based polymers or other raw materials. It is engineered to possess specific properties like strength, elasticity, or resistance to wrinkles and moisture.

Usage

Synthetic fibers are a category of materials distinct from natural fibers like cotton or wool. The term is used to describe the fundamental thread-like component from which fabrics are made. - The jacket is made from a durable synthetic fiber. - Nylon was one of the first commercially successful synthetic fibers.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Industrial Context: In manufacturing and materials science, "synthetic fiber" specifies the origin and chemical composition of the fiber, often discussed in contrast to natural or semi-synthetic fibers (like rayon).
  • The research focuses on improving the biodegradability of synthetic fibers.

Variants and Related Words

• Synthetic fibre (noun): The British English spelling variant.
• Man-made fiber (noun): A common synonym.
• Synthetic fabric (noun): Refers to the cloth woven or knitted from synthetic fibers.
• Synthetic (adjective): Used to describe something artificial or man-made.
  • a synthetic polymer

Synonyms

• Artificial fiber
• Man-made fiber
• Chemical fiber

Related Phrases

• Blend of natural and synthetic fibers: A common phrase in textiles describing fabric made from a mixture of fiber types.
  • This shirt is a comfortable blend of cotton and synthetic fibers.

Noun

1. fiber created from natural materials or by chemical processes