polyurethane

[ pol-ee-yoor-uh-theyn, -yoo-reth-eyn ]

/ ˌpɒl iˈyʊər əˌθeɪn, -yʊˈrɛθ eɪn /

Save This Word!

noun Chemistry.

a thermoplastic polymer containing the group NHCOO: used for padding and insulation in furniture, clothing, and packaging, and in the manufacture of resins for adhesives, elastomers, and fillers.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also pol·y·u·re·than

[pol-ee-yoor-uh-than]. /ˌpɒl iˈyʊər əˌθæn/.

Origin of polyurethane

First recorded in 1940–45; poly- + urethane

Words nearby polyurethane

polytrophic, polytunnel, polytypic, polyunsaturate, polyunsaturated, polyurethane, polyuria, polyvalent, polyvinyl, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl acetate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use polyurethane in a sentence

The thermoplastic polyurethane case even covers the slots where the strap attach without affecting strap compatibility.
The best Apple Watch case to protect the computer on your wrist|Stan Horaczek|August 23, 2021|Popular-Science
True long-distance hiking boots usually feature stiff polyurethane or EVA foam midsoles to protect against foot fatigue when traveling over rough terrain, and a high cut that sits fully over the ankle for added stability.
The Hoka Speedgoat Mids Cured My Blisters|Kaelyn Lynch|June 30, 2021|Outside Online
Off-road blades have no brakes, which is not uncommon for skates in general, but paved surfaces and polyurethane wheels allow for hockey stops and other maneuvers that slow you down.
Off-Road In-Line Skating Is as Dangerous as It Is Fun|Colleen Stinchcombe|March 24, 2021|Outside Online
Instead of that traditional band, the lighting system relies on a flexible thermoplastic polyurethane loop that rests lightly atop your head like Wonder Woman’s tiara.
The 100 greatest innovations of 2020|Popular Science Staff|December 2, 2020|Popular-Science

Then Farah, who is a practicing Muslim, got down on his knees, put his head on the polyurethane track, and bowed three times toward Mecca to the south.
Inside a secret running program at Nike and a win-at-all-costs corporate culture|Rachel King|October 6, 2020|Fortune
Not surprisingly, then, in 2010 there was a ban on buoyant polyurethane swimsuits.
Why Ban Full-Body Olympics Swimsuits? A Scientist Explains Polyurethane|John D. Barrow|July 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Horrific: Of course, the movie's real star is the Great White Shark—a 25-foot polyurethane mechanical marvel nicknamed Bruce.
Jaws’s Anniversary: Newsweek’s 1975 Review|Arthur Cooper|June 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for polyurethane

polyurethane

polyurethan (ˌpɒlɪˈjʊərəˌθæn)

/ (ˌpɒlɪˈjʊərəˌθeɪn) /

noun

a class of synthetic materials made by copolymerizing an isocyanate and a polyhydric alcohol and commonly used as a foam (polyurethane foam) for insulation and packing, as fibres and hard inert coatings, and in a flexible form (polyurethane rubber) for diaphragms and seals

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for polyurethane

polyurethane

[ pŏl′ē-yur′ə-thān′ ]

Any of various synthetic resins used to make tough resistant coatings, adhesives, foams, and electrical insulation.