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Glite Dictionary
rock wool

rock wool

4.9
A light, fluffy material made from melted rock used to keep buildings warm and safe from fire
  • noun
  • /rɑk wʊl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lana de roca

Examples

  • So what I'll do is I'll use the rock wool as basically filler.

  • OK, Stick your rock wool inside of your your holus seed tray.

  • Using rock wool insulation can significantly reduce energy costs in buildings.

  • The contractor recommended using rock wool for soundproofing between the rooms.

  • Many builders prefer rock wool for insulation because it is resistant to fire.

Synonyms

mineral wool
vsrock wool
  • Specialized
5.1

A light material of thin rock or glass fibers that stops heat moving and reduces sound

is made from molten stone rather than from varied mineral materials

Surface Forms

rock wool singular
rock wools plural

Morphology

rock + wool

The meaning is directly compositional: 'rock' + 'wool' describes a wool-like fibrous material made from rock, so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a fibrous insulating material produced from rock. This compound follows a straightforward noun-noun formation (similar to 'stone wool'/'mineral wool') and is therefore easily deducible by B1 learners.

Etymology

Rock wool was named because very hot, melted rock is spun into many thin threads that look like wool. Because these wool-like threads trap air, the material 'insulates' buildings and helps 'keep heat in'.