as ‧ bes ‧ tos /æsˈbestəs/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: Greek , 'lime (= type of white powder which, when water is added to it, seems to burn)' , from asbestos 'that cannot be put out' , from sbennynai 'to put out a fire' ]
a grey mineral that does not burn easily, that was used in the past as a building material or in protective clothing