rubber

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun an elastic material obtained from the latex sap of trees (especially trees of the genera Hevea and Ficus) that can be vulcanized and finished into a variety of products
  2. noun any of various synthetic elastic materials whose properties resemble natural rubber
  3. noun an eraser made of rubber (or of a synthetic material with properties similar to rubber); commonly mounted at one end of a pencil

Etymology

From rub + -er. The sense of the substance comes from its ability to function as an eraser, displacing earlier caoutchouc. The senses not pertaining to rubbing or erasing are secondarily derived from the name of the substance.

In classic literature

Synonyms

natural rubber, India rubber, gum elastic, caoutchouc

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