Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

rubber

 [ruhb-er]   Origin

rub·ber

1   [ruhb-er]
noun
1.
Also called India rubber, natural rubber, gum elastic, caoutchouc. a highly elastic solid substance, light cream or dark amber in color, polymerized by the drying and coagulation of the latex or milky juice of rubber trees and plants, especially Hevea and Ficus species.
2.
a material made by chemically treating and toughening this substance, valued for its elasticity, nonconduction of electricity, shock absorption, and resistance to moisture, used in the manufacture of erasers, electrical insulation, elastic bands, crepe soles, toys, water hoses, tires, and many other products.
3.
any of various similar substances and materials made synthetically. Compare synthetic rubber.
4.
rubber band.
5.
an eraser of this material, for erasing pencil marks, ink marks, etc.
EXPAND
6.
Informal. a rubber tire or a set of rubber tires.
7.
a low overshoe of this material.
8.
an instrument or tool used for rubbing, polishing, scraping, etc.
9.
a person who rubs something, as to smooth or polish it.
10.
cutter (def. 7).
11.
British. a dishcloth.
12.
a person who gives massages; masseur or masseuse.
13.
swipe (def. 6).
14.
Baseball. an oblong piece of white rubber or other material embedded in the mound at the point from which the pitcher delivers the ball.
15.
a coarse file.
16.
Slang. a condom.
COLLAPSE
Rubber Molding www.eagantech.com/ Small run specialty rubber molding To your requirements - quick turn
Ad
verb (used without object)
17.
Informal. to rubberneck.

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Rubber is one of our favorite verbs.
So is yaff. Does it mean:
to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
to bark; yelp.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
adjective
18.
made of, containing, or coated with rubber: a rubber bath mat.
19.
pertaining to or producing rubber: a rubber plantation.
Origin:
1530–40; rub + -er1

Related forms
rub·ber·less, adjective
rub·ber·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged

rub·ber

2   [ruhb-er]
noun
1.
(in certain card games, as bridge and whist)
2.
a series or round played until one sidereaches a specific score or wins a specific number of hands.
3.
a series consisting of an odd number of games won by the side winning the majority, usually two out of three.
4.
the deciding game in such a series.
adjective
5.
Also called rubber match. Sports. noting a deciding contest between two opponents who have previously won the same number of contests from each other.
Origin:
1585–95; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To Rubber
Collins
World English Dictionary
rubber1 (ˈrʌbə)
 
—n
1.  India rubber, gum elastic, Also called: caoutchouc a cream to dark brown elastic material obtained by coagulating and drying the latex from certain plants, esp the tree Hevea brasiliensis
2.  any of a large variety of elastomers produced by improving the properties of natural rubber or by synthetic means
3.  chiefly (Brit) a piece of rubber or felt used for erasing something written, typed, etc; eraser
4.  a coarse file
5.  a cloth, pad, etc, used for polishing or buffing
6.  a person who rubs something in order to smooth, polish, or massage
7.  chiefly (US), (Canadian) (often plural) a rubberized waterproof article, such as a mackintosh or overshoe
8.  slang a male contraceptive; condom
9.  (modifier) made of or producing rubber: a rubber ball; a rubber factory
 
[C17: from rub + -er1; the tree was so named because its product was used for rubbing out writing]

rubber2 (ˈrʌbə)
 
—n
1.  bridge, whist
 a.  a match of three games
 b.  the deal that wins such a match
2.  a series of matches or games in any of various sports
 
[C16: origin unknown]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

rubber
"thing that rubs," 1536, from rub (v.). The meaning "elastic substance from tropical plants" (short for India rubber) first recorded 1788, introduced to Europe 1744 by Charles Marie de la Condamine, so called because it was originally used as an eraser.
EXPAND
"Very useful for erasing the strokes of black lead pencils, and is popularly called rubber, and lead-eater." [entry for Caoutchouc in, Howard, "New Royal Encyclopedia," 1788]
Meaning "overshoes made of rubber" is 1842, Amer.Eng.; slang sense of "condom" is from 1930s. Sense of "deciding match" in a game or contest is 1599, of unknown origin, and perhaps an entirely separate word. Rubberneck (v.) is attested from 1896. Rubber stamp is from 1881; fig. sense of "institution whose power is formal but not real" is from 1919; the v. in this sense is from 1934. Rubber cement is attested from 1895. Rubber check is from 1927.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
rubber   (rŭb'ər)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. An elastic material prepared from the milky sap of certain tropical plants, especially the tree Hevea brasiliensis. Rubber is a polymer that is used, after processing, in a great variety of products, including electric insulation and tires. In its pure form, it is white and consists of repeating units of C5H8.

  2. Any of various synthetic materials having properties that are similar to those of this substance.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

rubber definition


  1. n.
    automobile tires; the rubber of automobile tires left on the street from spinning tires. : The rubber on my car is practically ruined.

  2. Go to rubber (check). :
  3. n.
    a condom. : He always carries a rubber “just in case.”
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

rubber (check) definition


  1. n.
    a check that bounces; a forged check. (See also bounce.) : The bank says I wrote a rubber check, but I'm sure there was enough money on deposit.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT