rubber

[ ruhb-er ]

/ ˈrʌb ər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR rubber ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

rubber band.

an eraser of this material, for erasing pencil marks, ink marks, etc.

Informal. a rubber tire or a set of rubber tires.

a low overshoe of this material.

an instrument or tool used for rubbing, polishing, scraping, etc.

a person who rubs something, as to smooth or polish it.

cutter(def 8).

British. a dishcloth.

a person who gives massages; masseur or masseuse.

Horse Racing. swipe(def 7).

Baseball. an oblong piece of white rubber or other material embedded in the mound at the point from which the pitcher delivers the ball.

a coarse file.

Slang. a condom.

verb (used without object)

Informal. to rubberneck.

adjective

made of, containing, or coated with rubber: a rubber bath mat.

pertaining to or producing rubber: a rubber plantation.

Origin of rubber

First recorded in 1530–40; rub + -er¹

OTHER WORDS FROM rubber

rub·ber·less, adjective rub·ber·like, adjective

Words nearby rubber

rubaboo, rubaiyat stanza, rubarth's disease, rubasse, rubato, rubber, rubber band, rubber bridge, rubber cement, rubber check, rubber cheque

Definition for rubber (2 of 2)

rubber ²

[ ruhb-er ]

/ ˈrʌb ər /

noun

(in certain card games, as bridge and whist)

a series or round played until one sidereaches a specific score or wins a specific number of hands.

a series consisting of an odd number of games won by the side winning the majority, usually two out of three.

the deciding game in such a series.

adjective

Also called rubber match. Sports. noting a deciding contest between two opponents who have previously won the same number of contests from each other.

Origin of rubber

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Example sentences from the Web for rubber

He spent three days in a rubber room wearing a plastic smock before returning.

A Million Ways to Die in Prison |Daniel Genis |December 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
With a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate and cranberries until the dough is well mixed.

Make These Barefoot Contessa Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies |Ina Garten |November 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Soon his coffers were overflowing with revenue from rubber, palm oil, and ivory.

‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis |Nina Strochlic |November 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The comet is basically shaped like a rubber ducky, but with a much rougher surface.

Earthlings, We Landed on a Comet |Matthew R. Francis |November 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Yeah, and I remember being sort of shocked that I was going to be the one to be under all of that rubber.

All Eyes on Anjelica Huston: The Legendary Actress on Love, Abuse, and Jack Nicholson |Alex Suskind |November 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In it the sexton kept a scythe, a mowing machine, some cans and a bier, a four-wheeled vehicle with rubber tyres.

The Smuggler's Cave |George A. Birmingham
M. Talleyrand was enjoying his rubber, when the conversation turned on the recent union of an elderly lady of respectable rank.

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction |Various
We went home first for rubber coats, and then set off down the road to the ocean side of the Cape.

Pilgrim Trails |Frances Lester Warner
The speaking-tube used was of woven material, not of rubber, and a pad of felt was kept in the tube near the diaphragm box.

Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1 |Various
A perforated rubber stopper, fitted with a glass tube on which is slipped a rubber syringe bulb, completes the apparatus.

Scientific American Supplement, No. 711, August 17, 1889 |Various

British Dictionary definitions for rubber (1 of 2)

rubber ¹

/ (ˈrʌbə) /

noun

Also called: India rubber, gum elastic, caoutchouc a 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

mainly British a 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) mainly US and Canadian a rubberized waterproof article, such as a mackintosh or overshoe

slang a male contraceptive; condom

(modifier) made of or producing rubber a rubber ball; a rubber factory

Word Origin for rubber

C17: from rub + -er 1; the tree was so named because its product was used for rubbing out writing

British Dictionary definitions for rubber (2 of 2)

rubber ²

/ (ˈrʌbə) /

noun

bridge whist

a match of three games
the deal that wins such a match

a series of matches or games in any of various sports

Word Origin for rubber

C16: origin unknown

Scientific definitions for rubber

rubber

[ rŭb′ər ]

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.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rubber

noun

verb (used without object)

adjective

Origin of rubber

OTHER WORDS FROM rubber

Words nearby rubber

Definition for rubber (2 of 2)

noun

adjective

Origin of rubber

Example sentences from the Web for rubber

British Dictionary definitions for rubber (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for rubber

British Dictionary definitions for rubber (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for rubber

Scientific definitions for rubber

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

rubber

noun

verb (used without object)

adjective

Origin of rubber

OTHER WORDS FROM rubber

Words nearby rubber

Definition for rubber (2 of 2)

noun

adjective

Origin of rubber

Words related to rubber

Example sentences from the Web for rubber

British Dictionary definitions for rubber (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for rubber

British Dictionary definitions for rubber (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for rubber

Scientific definitions for rubber