fiber
gb/fˈaɪbɚ/ us/fˈaɪbɚ/
A2
English
~ 4500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Plant material aiding digestion
Parts of plants we eat that our body cannot break down, which help us digest food.
Usage pattern:
[amount] of fiber
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fiber' with 'protein' or 'carbohydrate', but fiber is a special kind of carbohydrate that is not digested.
Synonyms
roughage (Less common, more informal term used in dietary contexts.)
Antonyms
starch (A digestible carbohydrate, unlike fiber.)
Collocations
high fiber diet
|dietary fiber
|fiber intake
|fiber supplement
Themes
health
|nutrition
|science
|food_drink
Examples
- Eating more fiber can improve your digestion.
- Whole grains are a good source of dietary fiber.
- This cereal contains 8 grams of fiber per serving.
- Fiber helps prevent constipation.
- Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber.
Learner examples
- Fiber helps you go to the toilet.
- This bread has a lot of fiber.
- Eat fruit to get more fiber.
- Vegetables have a lot of fiber.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Thin thread-like material
A very thin piece of material like cotton, wool, or plastic, used to make clothes or other things.
Usage pattern:
[type] fiber
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'fiber' with 'fabric'; fabric is made from fibers woven together.
Synonyms
strand (General term for a single thin length of something; not limited to materials.)
Antonyms
sheet (A flat continuous surface rather than a thin strand.)
Collocations
cotton fiber
|synthetic fiber
|glass fiber
|fiber optic
Themes
materials
|manufacturing
|science
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The carpet is made from synthetic fibers.
- Cotton fibers are spun into thread.
- Glass fibers are used in insulation materials.
- Fiber optics transmit data as light signals.
- Wool fibers are naturally curly.
Learner examples
- The shirt is made from cotton fibers.
- They use glass fibers in the building.
- Wool fibers are soft.
- Fiber optics carry the internet signal.
Noun
formal
B2
property
3
Strength of character
The quality of being strong in your mind and doing what is right even when it is hard.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this figurative sense with the physical senses of 'fiber'. It is not about material or food here.
Synonyms
fortitude (Formal term for courage in facing difficulties.)
Antonyms
weakness (Lack of strength or resolve in character.)
Collocations
moral fiber
|inner fiber
Themes
emotions
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She showed great moral fiber in standing up for her beliefs.
- The ordeal tested his inner fiber.
- We need leaders with the fiber to make tough decisions.
Learner examples
- He has the moral fiber to say no to bad things.
- She showed great fiber when she told the truth.
- It takes fiber to do the right thing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fiber
IPA
GB/fˈaɪbɚ/
US/fˈaɪbɚ/
Syllables & stress
fiber (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (fiber)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fiber
- Plural: fiber, fibers
Word family
Forms
fibers
noun
Related words
fibrous
adjective
fiberglass
noun
Expressions
dietary fiber
1/dˈaɪətˌɛɹi fˈaɪbɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Indigestible plant material in diet
Plant parts in food that help you digest and keep you healthy.
Examples
- Dietary fiber helps lower cholesterol levels.
- Beans are a rich source of dietary fiber.
fiber optic
1/fˈaɪbɚ ˈɑptɪk/
fixed phrase
technical
Strand for transmitting light signals
A very thin glass or plastic wire that carries light for sending information.
Examples
- Fiber optic cables provide high-speed internet connections.
- The signal travels through a fiber optic network.
moral fiber
1/mˈɔɹəl fˈaɪbɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
Strength of character and morals
The quality of being strong and brave in doing what is right.
Examples
- It takes moral fiber to stand up to injustice.
- She demonstrated moral fiber during the crisis.