corrugated
Americanadjective
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of corrugated
First recorded in 1585–95; corrugate ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the adjective; corrugate ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the verb
Explanation
Corrugated means molded into tight ridges and valleys. You've probably seen corrugated cardboard or corrugated metal roofs. Materials are put into a corrugated shape to ensure elasticity and strength — cardboard boxes hold their shape because the cardboard is reinforced with a corrugated layer inside the two flat pieces. To remember corrugated, think about corduroy pants — which also have ridges and valleys. If you're lucky enough to have had ribbon candy, that's corrugated as well.
Vocabulary lists containing corrugated
Born a Crime
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
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A Lesson Before Dying
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Saturday, firefighters were still clearing debris and removing collapsed corrugated metal roofing.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
The digital age has crushed demand for newsprint and office paper, but e-commerce promised a golden era for corrugated boxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Inside, fire officials said, corrugated steel walls are filled with very dense foam that has been burning slowly and emitting gases despite ongoing water drops from helicopters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Special corrugated boxes have been developed to protect the fruit and help keep them cool.
From BBC ● May 25, 2026
It was blue-collar all the way, located inside a corrugated metal shell; metal shavings covered the floor around the heavy equipment, which filled the shop with a regular hum.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
