Rubber: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to the material derived from the latex of rubber trees, often used in tires, footwear, and other durable items.

• The tires of this car are made from high-quality rubber.
• She wore rubber boots to protect her feet from the rain.

Refers to a natural or synthetic rubber, often used in gloves, balloons, and other flexible products.

• Doctors often wear latex gloves during examinations.
• The balloons were made of a thin latex material.

Describes a material's ability to return to its original shape after being stretched or deformed, often used in clothing and bands.

• The elastic waistband makes these pants very comfortable.
• They used an elastic band to keep the papers together.

Usually refers to a sticky substance that can be chewed or used as a type of adhesive, often in art or culinary contexts.

• She chews gum to freshen her breath.
• You can use this kind of gum to attach the poster to the wall.

Commonly used in British English to refer to an object used for correcting pencil marks or mistakes. It can also refer to the material (elastic substance) made from latex, used in making various products like tires, gloves, etc.

• I used a rubber to clean up my homework mistakes.
• This ball is made of rubber.

Commonly used in American English to refer to an object used for correcting pencil marks or mistakes.

• Could you please pass me an eraser? I made a lot of mistakes.
• She bought a new eraser for her art class.

In American English, this term can also mean a slang for ‘condom’. It has a casual and sometimes humorous tone.

• He always keeps a rubber in his wallet just in case.
• During the lecture on health education, the teacher explained the importance of using rubbers.

This word is appropriate when discussing a contraceptive device used during sexual intercourse. It has a specific and serious implication related to sexual health and protection.

• Using a condom can help prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
• They decided to use condoms to avoid pregnancy.

This refers to footwear, specifically boots made from rubber material, used to protect feet in wet or muddy conditions.

• She wore her rubbers to walk through the puddle-filled street.
• Rubbers are essential for hiking during the rainy season.

This word is used in formal or technical settings, describing a protective covering worn over regular shoes to shield them from water, dirt, or other elements. It is a more general term than 'galosh'.

• The workers were provided with overshoes to keep their shoes clean in the construction area.
• Overshoes are often used in cleanroom environments to keep floors free of contaminants.

Primarily referring to a type of waterproof overshoe that is worn over regular shoes to protect them from getting wet. This term can sound somewhat old-fashioned.

• He slipped his galoshes over his dress shoes to keep them dry.
• During rainy seasons, people often used galoshes to walk through muddy roads.

Common in American English, knows as a contraceptive device; however, the use may carry negative or awkward connotations depending on the context.

• He jokingly asked if anyone had a rubber, causing the group to laugh awkwardly

Used in both digital and physical contexts to mean removing something that was written, drawn, or recorded.

• He used a cloth to erase the chalk from the board
• You need to erase your browsing history

Typically used in digital contexts to mean removing text, files, or data.

• Please delete the files you no longer need
• If you make a mistake, just delete it