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Definition of earthflax
earthflax
/ˈɜːrθ.flæks/
earth · flax
earthflax Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Archaic
earthflax Game Scores & Validity
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WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
An archaic or historical term for a fine, fibrous form of asbestos, particularly amianthus, characterized by its silken, thread-like appearance.
Example
"Before the severe respiratory risks of the mineral were discovered, earthflax was woven into fire-resistant tapestries and burial shrouds by ancient artisans."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for earthflaxWord Nuance & Usage
Now obsolete in modern scientific or industrial contexts, the term was historically used to describe asbestos fibers due to their visual resemblance to botanical flax.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'earth' and 'flax', coined in the 16th century to describe the naturally occurring, fire-resistant mineral amianthus (a fine type of asbestos), whose silky threads closely mimic plant fibers.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Earthflax. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/earthflax