fibrous

Think of the inside of a celery stalk, with all those stringy bits. The word "fibrous" describes something made of fibers, full of fibers, or shaped like fibers. These fibers can be natural, like the ones in plants and wood, or man-made, like the ones in rope or some fabrics. You might call a piece of fruit fibrous if it has many little strands that are hard to chew, or call a material fibrous if its thread-like structure makes it feel strong and slightly rough. A doctor might also talk about "fibrous tissue" when describing certain kinds of body tissue or healing.

The word "fibrous" points to something characterized by the presence of fibers, those long, slender strands that add strength, structure, or texture. It is a quality we meet in both natural and manufactured materials. Consider a coconut: its husk is famously fibrous, forming a tough outer layer. In the same way, many fruits and vegetables, such as celery or pineapple, can be described as fibrous because they contain noticeable strands.

But "fibrous" is not limited to the plant world. Wood is fibrous, which helps give it strength. In biology and medicine, "fibrous tissue" refers to tissue rich in strong fibers, often connected with support, scarring, or repair in the body. Materials people make can also be fibrous: think of rope made from hemp, or fabrics like linen and cotton that are made from plant fibers.

The term often suggests a certain toughness or stringy texture. Something described as fibrous is usually not smooth or uniform; you can often see or feel the small strands that make it up. So when you come across something with a rough, stringy, or thread-like quality, "fibrous" is often the right word for it.