linoleum

American  

[li-noh-lee-uhm] / lɪˈnoʊ li əm /

noun

1. 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.

2. any floor covering similar to this.

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linoleum British  

/ lɪˈnəʊlɪəm /

noun

1. Often shortened to: lino.  a sheet material made of hessian, jute, etc, coated under pressure and heat with a mixture of powdered cork, linseed oil, rosin, and pigment, used as a floor covering

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Etymology

Origin of linoleum

1863; < Latin līn ( um ) flax, linen + oleum oil; formerly trademark

Example Sentences

“After so many disappointments over the years, it’s hard to believe that anything’s going to go right,” Sullivan said, later admitting that “I was convinced they were cuffed face-down on the linoleum somewhere.”

From Los Angeles Times

The ground beneath me turns into smooth linoleum, rather than the grainy sand outside.

From Literature

So much so that covering the kitchen tile with blue and red checkerboard linoleum was one of their first dates in 2022, two years before Zaletel, 32, moved in.

From Los Angeles Times

A blue-hued linoleum floor made to look like an aquarium, replete with singing fish and turtles, brightens the dark-wooded downstairs space and echoes the nautical elements Kesling introduced into his Streamline Moderne homes.

From Los Angeles Times

The flat had no floor coverings and she took out a loan to install linoleum throughout.

From BBC

Related Words

• carpet
• carpeting
• tile
• woodwork