Am`i*an"thus (&?;), n. [L. amiantus, Gr. &?; &?; (lit., unsoiled stone) a greenish stone, like asbestus; 'a priv. + &?; to stain, to defile; so called from its incombustibility.] (Min.) Earth flax, or mountain flax; a soft silky variety of asbestus.

• a type of asbestos with long, soft, thin fibers