Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
vulcanized fiber

vulcanized fiber

8.7
A tough material like leather made by pressing layers of paper treated with chemicals, used for electrical insulation and parts
  • noun
  • /ˈvʌlkəˌnaɪzd ˈfaɪbər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : fibra vulcanizada
  • The electrician used vulcanized fiber to insulate the wires and prevent short-circuits.

Examples

  • The manufacturer chose vulcanized fiber for its durability in producing mechanical parts.

  • Due to its tough nature, vulcanized fiber is ideal for making protective cases for sensitive equipment.

  • In June 1943, when they imprisoned her in the local prison in Terezin, the overseer suspected Tanga of having stolen his vulcanized fiber suitcase before she proved to him that it was hers.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

fiber
vsvulcanized fiber
  • US
57 6.8

A hard material made by pressing layers of paper to look like leather

is treated with chemicals for use in electrical insulation and mechanical parts

How Tough

metal
840 1.1
vulcanized fiber
  • Archaic
8.7
cardboard
147 1.0
paper
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

vulcanized fiber singular
vulcanized fibers plural

Morphology

vulcanized + fiber

The phrase is directly compositional: 'vulcanized' denotes a material treated chemically for durability and 'fiber' names the material, so the compound simply means a fiber that has been vulcanized (chemically treated). This follows a standard adjective+noun pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings.

Etymology

Vulcanized fiber may get its name from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, because thin paper fiber layers were vulcanized — treated and pressed until they were 'made hard'. Imagine many sheets of fiber pressed and bonded into a tough, leatherlike board, so the name now fits a strong material used for insulation and machine parts.