rubber
RUH-buh
Rubber (noun) means a stretchy, water-resistant material made from the sap of certain trees or synthetically. Example: “Rubber is used in boots because it keeps water out.”
noun
1
A stretchy, water-resistant material made from the sap of certain trees or synthetically.
"Rubber is used in boots because it keeps water out."
"The ball was made of soft rubber and bounced very high."
"The tires are made of a tough, durable rubber."
2
(chiefly British) An eraser.
"He rubbed out the wrong answer with a rubber and wrote it again."
"There was a small rubber on the end of her pencil."
"Can I borrow your rubber to fix this mistake?"
3
(informal) A condom.
"He kept a rubber in his wallet, just in case."
4
In bridge and similar games, a set or series of games played to decide an overall winner.
"Our team needed to win one more game to take the rubber."
"After two close games, the final one decided the rubber."
"They won the rubber two games to one."
How to use rubber
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe stretchy material used in tires and gloves; in Britain, also the everyday word for an eraser; informally, a condom.
UK vs US
In British English "rubber" usually means an eraser; in American English it almost always means a condom, so British speakers should be careful using the word in the US.
Common pairings
rubber band
rubber gloves
rubber tire
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like rubber.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- rubbers
- Third person singular
- rubbers
- Past tense
- rubbered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ is used in boots because it keeps water out.
Etymology
From "rub" plus "-er" — originally named because the material was used to rub out pencil marks, before its other uses became more common.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for rubber
See all rhymes for rubber →Frequently asked questions
What does “rubber” mean?
The word “rubber” means a stretchy, water-resistant material made from the sap of certain trees or synthetically. In plain terms, the stretchy material used in tires and gloves; in Britain, also the everyday word for an eraser; informally, a condom.
How do you pronounce “rubber”?
“Rubber” is pronounced RUH-buh (/ˈɹʌbɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “rubber” in a sentence?
Here is “rubber” used in a sentence: “The tires are made of a tough, durable rubber.”
What part of speech is “rubber”?
“Rubber” is a noun.
Is “rubber” a common word?
“Rubber” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “rubber” have?
“Rubber” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a stretchy, water-resistant material made from the sap of certain trees or synthetically.
What is the difference between 'rubber' in British and American English?
In British English, 'rubber' commonly means an eraser, the object used to remove pencil marks. In American English, that object is called an 'eraser,' and 'rubber' usually refers only to the stretchy, water-resistant material.
What is the difference between natural and synthetic rubber?
Natural rubber is made from the sap of certain trees, chiefly the rubber tree. Synthetic rubber is manufactured chemically to imitate those properties, and both are stretchy and water-resistant.
Why do British students ask for a 'rubber' in class?
In British English, a 'rubber' is an eraser. A student asking for a rubber simply wants the small object used to rub out pencil marks, not the material.
What words commonly go with 'rubber'?
Common collocations include 'rubber band,' 'rubber stamp,' 'rubber gloves,' and 'rubber boots.' Most of these use the material sense of 'rubber' rather than the British eraser sense.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include rubber:
