polystyrene
[ pol-ee-stahy-reen, -steer-een ]
/ ˌpɒl iˈstaɪ rin, -ˈstɪər in /
noun Chemistry.
a clear plastic or stiff foam, a polymer of styrene, used chiefly as an insulator in refrigerators and air conditioners.
Words nearby polystyrene
polyspermia,
polyspermy,
polystichia,
polystichous,
polystyle,
polystyrene,
polysulfide,
polysulphide,
polysuspensoid,
polysyllabic,
polysyllable
British Dictionary definitions for polystyrene
polystyrene
/ (ˌpɒlɪˈstaɪriːn) /
noun
a synthetic thermoplastic material obtained by polymerizing styrene; used as a white rigid foam (expanded polystyrene) for insulating and packing and as a glasslike material in light fittings and water tanks
Scientific definitions for polystyrene
polystyrene
[ pŏl′ē-stī′rēn ]
A brittle synthetic polymer composed of repeated styrene units. Polystyrene is transparent and rigid because the benzene rings in each styrene unit prevent the polystyrene chains from arranging themselves into a tight crystalline structure. Polystyrene has a wide variety of uses, especially as a solid foam for insulation and packaging.