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rubber

 - 9 dictionary results

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

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; orig. uncert.

cut⋅ter

[kuht-er]
–noun
1. a person who cuts, esp. as a job, as one who cuts fabric for garments.
2. a machine, tool, or other device for cutting.
3. Nautical.
a. a single-masted sailing vessel, very similar to a sloop but having its mast set somewhat farther astern, about two-fifths of the way aft measured on the water line.
b. a ship's boat having double-banked oars and one or two lugsails.
4. Also called revenue cutter. a lightly armed government vessel used to prevent smuggling and enforce the customs regulations.
5. a person employed as a film editor.
6. a small, light sleigh, usually single-seated and pulled by one horse.
7. Also called rubber. a brick suitable for cutting and rubbing.
8. (in U.S. government grading of beef)
a. a low-quality grade of beef between utility and canner.
b. beef of this grade, mostly used in processed beef products, as sausage.
9. cut fastball.
–adjective
10. (in U.S. government grading of beef) graded between utility and canner.

Origin:
1375–1425; ME kittere, cuttere. See cut, -er 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rubber
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.]
rub·ber 2   (rŭb'ər)   
n.  
  1. A series of games of which two out of three or three out of five must be won to terminate the play.

  2. An odd game played to break a tie.


[Origin unknown.]
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

  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.
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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: 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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