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optical fiber

optical fiber

1 4.2
A very thin glass or plastic thread that carries light signals to send data quickly
  • noun
  • /ˈɑptɪkəl ˈfaɪbər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fibra óptica
  • The optical fiber cable is essential for streaming high-definition videos without buffering.
  • optical fiber communication
  • transmitted along an optical fiber
  • optical fiber with very low

And as part of that they wanted to bring in high optical fibre connections to the House.

Examples

  • That is, each of these optical fibers is carrying either a blue or a white image.

  • Light from an optical fiber reflects off the resonator and returns up the fiber.

    Academic text (2006)
  • And as part of that they wanted to bring in high optical fibre connections to the House.

  • A high bandwidth optical fiber connection.

  • Now luckily optical fibre links do allow us to reach those uncertainty levels.

  • It's hard to overestimate the impact that new developments in optical fibers have on the field.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Combining rapidly reducing prices with vast capacities, optical fiber has become the major technology used in the construction of transmission systems.

    Academic text (1990)
  • In 1970, Corning developed a workable silica optical fiber, an idea that had been around for decades.

    Blog text (4)
  • High-speed internet relies on optical fiber to transmit data quickly across long distances.

  • Engineers are developing new technologies to enhance the performance of optical fiber in telecommunication networks.

Synonyms

fiber
vsoptical fiber
  • Specialized
71 3.7

A thin glass or plastic thread that carries data as light

is a single thin strand of glass or plastic for transmitting light signals
fiber optic cable
vsoptical fiber
  • Specialized
7 3.9

A thin glass or plastic cable that sends data as light

is a single thin strand rather than a bundled assembly for data
glass fiber
vsoptical fiber
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A thin glass thread that carries light in cables and instruments

is made from glass or plastic rather than from one material

How Thin

nanofiber
  • Specialized
1 6.7
optical fiber
  • Specialized
1 4.2
multimode
  • Specialized
6.1
fiber optic cable
  • Specialized
7 3.9

Surface Forms

optical fiber singular

Morphology

optical + fiber

The meaning 'a thin strand that transmits light signals' is directly and transparently derived from 'optical' (relating to light/vision) modifying 'fiber' (a thin strand). This adjective+noun composition follows ordinary compositional rules and has clear parallels in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Optical fiber comes from the image of a thin fiber or thread that carries optical 'light' signals. Early inventors used very thin glass threads to guide 'light', so today optical fiber means a slim glass or plastic strand that carries 'light' for fast data and images.