noun
linoleum
lih-NOH-lee-uhm
Linoleum (noun) means a durable, wipeable floor covering originally made from hardened linseed oil on a canvas backing. Example: “The kitchen still had its original 1950s linoleum floor.”
noun
1
A durable, wipeable floor covering originally made from hardened linseed oil on a canvas backing.
"The kitchen still had its original 1950s linoleum floor."
"The house seemed unfamiliar in the dark stormy light; the red and purple glass of the front door made livid bruises on the linoleum; the green chenille curtain was like a veil of seaweed."
— M. Barnard Eldershaw, A House is Built (1929)
How to use linoleum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tough, easy-to-clean floor covering, often just called lino.
Common pairings
linoleum floor
lay linoleum
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Word forms
- Plural
- linoleums
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The kitchen still had its original 1950s _____ floor.
Etymology
From Latin linum ("flax") plus oleum ("oil"). Coined around 1864 by English inventor Frederick Walton, whose trade name became so common it turned into an ordinary word for the product.
Class of 1864
linoleum joined the language around 1864.
See the full Class of 1864 →
Synonyms
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lino
Rhymes for linoleum
See all rhymes for linoleum →Frequently asked questions
What does “linoleum” mean?
The word “linoleum” means a durable, wipeable floor covering originally made from hardened linseed oil on a canvas backing. In plain terms, a tough, easy-to-clean floor covering, often just called lino.
How do you pronounce “linoleum”?
“Linoleum” is pronounced lih-NOH-lee-uhm (/lɪˈnoʊli.əm/ in IPA).
How do you use “linoleum” in a sentence?
Here is “linoleum” used in a sentence: “The kitchen still had its original 1950s linoleum floor.”
What part of speech is “linoleum”?
“Linoleum” is a noun.
Where does the word “linoleum” come from?
The word “linoleum” dates back to around 1864 and comes from Latin. From Latin linum ("flax") plus oleum ("oil"). Coined around 1864 by English inventor Frederick Walton, whose trade name became so common it turned into an ordinary word for the product.
