[noun] [U] - a soft greyish-white material that does not burn, and which is used in buildings, clothing, etc. as a protection against fire, and as a form of insulation (= way of stopping heat from escaping)blue/white/brown asbestosMany countries have limited or banned the use of asbestos because of fears that its fibres cause diseases such as lung cancer if inhaled.
Meaning of ASBESTOS in English
Cambridge English vocab. Кембриджский английский словарь. 2012