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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50 Great Words from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
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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.
Few companies will be immune to rising prices for corrugated boxes, which are used to move everything from produce to factory parts around the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
The corrugated steel walls are filled with very dense foam that is burning slowly and emitting gases despite ongoing water drops from helicopters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026
Special corrugated boxes have been developed to protect the fruit and help keep them cool.
From BBC ● May 25, 2026
Insulation from the global natural-gas shock benefits not just household bill payers but also manufacturers of everything from steel and plastics to fertilizer and corrugated boxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 8, 2026
They were reinforced with sandbags, with sheets of corrugated iron, with wooden frames supporting the raised earthen parapets that protected the soldiers from enemy fire.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
Definitions 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.
