[i-las-tuh-mer] 
| an elastic substance occurring naturally, as natural rubber, or produced synthetically, as butyl rubber or neoprene. |
| e·las·to·mer (ĭ-lās'tə-mər) n. Any of various polymers having the elastic properties of natural rubber. [elast(ic) + (poly)mer.] e·las'to·mer'ic (-měr'ĭk) adj. |
elastomer
any rubbery material composed of long, chainlike molecules that are capable of recovering their original shape after being stretched to great extents. Under normal conditions the long molecules making up an elastomeric material are irregularly coiled. With the application of force, however, the molecules straighten out in the direction in which they are being pulled. Upon release, the molecules spontaneously return to their normal compact, random arrangement.
Learn more about elastomer with a free trial on Britannica.com.
tə
