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.

Origin of polystyrene

First recorded in 1925–30; poly- + styrene

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-stīrēn ]

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.