noun Uncommon

silicone

SIH-lih-kohn

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Silicone (noun) means a flexible, heat-resistant synthetic material made from silicon, used in everything from bakeware to sealants to medical implants. Example: “The muffin tray was made of flexible silicone.”

noun

A flexible, heat-resistant synthetic material made from silicon, used in everything from bakeware to sealants to medical implants.

"The muffin tray was made of flexible silicone."

"Silicone sealant is used to waterproof bathroom joints."

verb

To seal or coat something with silicone.

"He siliconed around the edge of the sink to stop water getting underneath."

How to use silicone

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA rubbery, heat-resistant man-made material used for sealing, cooking tools, and implants.

Easily confused with

silicon →

Common pairings

silicone sealant silicone implants silicone mould

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: silicones
Third person singular: silicones
Past tense: siliconed

Test yourself on “silicone” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The muffin tray was made of flexible _____.

Etymology

Formed from silicon plus the suffix -one, originally coined when chemists tried to make a silicon version of a ketone.

Synonyms

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silicone polymer

Rhymes for silicone

one bone done gone none tone lone hone cone zone stone phone

See all rhymes for silicone →

Frequently asked questions

What does “silicone” mean?

The word “silicone” means a flexible, heat-resistant synthetic material made from silicon, used in everything from bakeware to sealants to medical implants. In plain terms, a rubbery, heat-resistant man-made material used for sealing, cooking tools, and implants.

How do you pronounce “silicone”?

“Silicone” is pronounced SIH-lih-kohn (/ˈsɪlɪkəʊn/ in IPA).

How do you use “silicone” in a sentence?

Here is “silicone” used in a sentence: “The muffin tray was made of flexible silicone.”

What part of speech is “silicone”?

Depending on how it is used, “silicone” can be a noun and a verb.

Is “silicone” a common word?

“Silicone” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “silicone” have?

“Silicone” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flexible, heat-resistant synthetic material made from silicon, used in everything from bakeware to sealants to medical implants.