Also called India rubber, natural rubber,gum, gum elastic, caoutchouc. a highly elastic solid substance, light cream or dark amber in color, polymerized by the drying and coagulation of the latex or milky juice of rubber trees and plants, especially Hevea and Ficus species.
a material made by chemically treating and toughening this substance, valued for its elasticity, nonconduction of electricity, shock absorption, and resistance to moisture, used in the manufacture of erasers, electrical insulation, elastic bands, crepe soles, toys, water hoses, tires, and many other products.
any of various similar substances and materials made synthetically.Compare synthetic rubber.
Also called: India rubber, gum elastic, caoutchouca cream to dark brown elastic material obtained by coagulating and drying the latex from certain plants, esp the tree Hevea brasiliensis
any of a large variety of elastomers produced by improving the properties of natural rubber or by synthetic means
mainlyBritisha piece of rubber or felt used for erasing something written, typed, etc; eraser
a coarse file
a cloth, pad, etc, used for polishing or buffing
a person who rubs something in order to smooth, polish, or massage
(often plural)mainlyUS and Canadiana rubberized waterproof article, such as a mackintosh or overshoe
slanga male contraceptive; condom
(modifier)made of or producing rubbera rubber ball; a rubber factory
Word Origin for rubber
C17: from rub + -er1; the tree was so named because its product was used for rubbing out writing
rubber
2
noun
bridgewhist
a match of three games
the deal that wins such a match
a series of matches or games in any of various sports
"thing that rubs" (a brush, cloth, etc.), 1530s, agent noun from rub (v.). The meaning "elastic substance from tropical plants" (short for India rubber) first recorded 1788, introduced to Europe 1744 by Charles Marie de la Condamine, so called because it originally was used as an eraser.
Very useful for erasing the strokes of black lead pencils, and is popularly called rubber, and lead-eater. [entry for Caoutchouc in Howard, "New Royal Encyclopedia," 1788]
Meaning "overshoe made of rubber" is 1842, American English; slang sense of "condom" is by 1930s. Sense of "deciding match" in a game or contest is 1590s, of unknown signification, and perhaps an entirely separate word. Rubber stamp (n.) is from 1881; figurative sense of "institution whose power is formal but not real" is from 1919; the verb in this sense is from 1934. Rubber cement is attested from 1856 (from 1823 as India-rubber cement). Rubber check (one that "bounces") is from 1927.
An elastic material prepared from the milky sap of certain tropical plants, especially the tree Hevea brasiliensis. Rubber is a polymer that is used, after processing, in a great variety of products, including electric insulation and tires. In its pure form, it is white and consists of repeating units of C5H8.
Any of various synthetic materials having properties that are similar to those of this substance.
