Rubber Meaning
/ˈɹʌbə/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounPliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree; a hydrocarbon biopolymer of isoprene.
nounNatural rubber or any of various synthetic materials with similar properties as natural rubber.
Sentence Examples
The Mayas made their balls out of rubber.
Tires wear down because of friction between the rubber and the road surface.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
None
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The tires are made of ____, a stretchy material from rubber trees.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The surgeon pulled on a pair of sterile ____ gloves before beginning the procedure.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"For example, they may use paddle pop sticks, hand span, pencils, rubbers, mathematics equipment (i.e. base 10 material) or anything else the teacher can find to measure the lengths of nominated objects."
— 2006, Lisa Kervin, Research for Educators, page 148:
"Drawing materials, he thought, I used to love drawing as a lad. I can afford some plain paper and pencils, surely? And a rubber, too. He smiled at the memory of an elderly uncle, also fond of drawing, who′d always called rubbers ‘lead eaters’."
— 2010, Anna Jacobs, Beyond the Sunset, unnumbered page:
"Stan stole a diary and some pens, pencils, ink and rubbers during his early days as a POW working on the Singapore docks."
— 2011, Patrick Lindsay, The Spirit of the Digger, Revised edition, unnumbered page:
"And the rubbers you hide / In your top left pocket"
— 1979, “At Home He's A Tourist”, in Entertainment!, performed by Gang of Four:
"Don't have sex, because you will get pregnant and die! Don't have sex in the missionary position, don't have sex standing up, just don't do it, OK, promise? OK, now everybody take some rubbers."
— 2004, Tina Fey, Mean Girls (motion picture), spoken by Coach Carr (Dwayne Hill):
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The tires are made of ____, a stretchy material from rubber trees.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The surgeon pulled on a pair of sterile ____ gloves before beginning the procedure.