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caoutchouc

 - 9 dictionary results

caou⋅tchouc

[kou-chook, kou-chook]
–noun
1. rubber 1 (def. 1).
2. pure rubber.

Origin:
1765–75; < F < Sp cauchuc (now obs.), prob. ult. < an Indian language of lowland tropical South America

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, esp. 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.
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.
–verb (used without object)
17. Informal. to rubberneck.
–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 + -er 1


rub⋅ber⋅less, adjective
rub⋅ber⋅like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To caoutchouc
caou·tchouc   (kou'chŏŏk', -chōōk')   
n.  See rubber1.

[French, probably from Spanish caucho, from Tupi cau-ucha.]
rub·ber 1   (rŭb'ər)   
n.  
  1. A yellowish, amorphous, elastic material obtained from the milky sap or latex of various tropical plants, especially the rubber tree, and vulcanized, pigmented, finished, and modified into products such as electric insulation, elastic bands and belts, tires, and containers. Also called caoutchouc, India rubber.

  2. Any of numerous synthetic elastic materials of varying chemical composition with properties similar to those of natural rubber.

  3. A low overshoe made of rubber.

  4. Baseball The rectangular piece of hard rubber that the pitcher must remain in contact with when making a pitch.

  5. Something made of rubber, as:

    1. An eraser.

    2. A tire.

    3. A set of tires on a vehicle.

  6. Slang A condom.

  7. One that rubs, especially one that gives a massage.


[From rub.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
rubber (check)

  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.
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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.
"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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: caou·tchouc
Pronunciation: 'kau-"chuk, -"chük, -"chü
Function: noun
: RUBBER 1

Main Entry: rub·ber
Pronunciation: 'r&b-&r
Function: noun
1 : an elastic substance that is obtained by coagulating the milky juice ofany of various tropical plants (as of the genera Hevea and Ficus), is essentially a polymer of isoprene, and is prepared as sheets and then dried called also caoutchouc, indiarubber
2 : CONDOM 1
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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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.
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