As plastics break down, whether that be through washing polyester clothing or wearing out our tires, microscopic particles of plastic shed, small enough to be picked up and transported by the air.
—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
7 May 2026
If a device frequently drops connection and can be fixed with a wiggle, there’s a good chance something is wearing out in the cable.
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.