Simple Definition of asbestos

from our Learner's Dictionary

asbestos

noun

: a soft gray mineral that does not burn, that was used especially as a building material in the past, and that can cause serious diseases of the lungs when people breathe its dust

Cite this Entry

“Asbestos.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/asbestos. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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