linoleum
Americannoun
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a hard, washable floor covering formed by coating burlap or canvas with linseed oil, powdered cork, and rosin, and adding pigments to create the desired colors and patterns.
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any floor covering similar to this.
noun
Etymology
Origin of linoleum
1863; < Latin līn ( um ) flax, linen + oleum oil; formerly trademark
Explanation
Linoleum is a sturdy, water-resistant type of floor covering. Many kitchens and bathrooms have linoleum floors, which kids love to slide across in their socks. Linoleum, which has been around since the late 1800s, is a smooth flooring made from linseed oil and other materials like powdered cork and wood fibers. Linoleum is durable, easy to clean with a mop, and comes in many colors. It's been largely replaced by cheaper and less flammable plastics, but many people still prefer linoleum because it's organic and non-allergenic. Linoleum's inventor coined the word, a combination of the Latin for “linen or flax,” linum, and oleum, which means "oil."
Vocabulary lists containing linoleum
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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Frindle
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"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury
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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.
First came the whippet who lives down the hall, galloping outside my apartment and then, as he often does, failing to account for the slickness of the linoleum.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
At Toyon, carpet was replaced with rugs and easy-to-clean linoleum floors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Ivana even covered their New York kitchen in gold linoleum.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
One of the products Habitable rates highly for flooring is linoleum, a durable natural product that has been widely replaced with PVC.
From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026
We went to Home Depot, purchased a roll of linoleum, and jammed it into Navid’s car.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
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.
