Rubber
/ˈrʌbər/
nounadjectiveB1
Definition
Rubber is a material that can stretch and bend without breaking. It is usually made from natural tree sap or made artificially (man-made). Rubber is used to make many products like tires for cars, erasers to remove pencil marks, and waterproof gloves.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Material that is stretchy and elastic
- •The tires on the car are made of rubber.
- •She used a rubber band to hold the papers together.
- •The gloves were made of thick rubber to protect hands.
(Adjective) Made from or containing rubber
- •He wore rubber boots to keep his feet dry.
- •The rubber floor in the gym helps prevent slipping.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "rubber" like "plastic," but softer and more stretchy, not hard or rigid
- ✓Picture a rubber band stretching around a stack of papers and then snapping back to its shape
- ✓It's the feeling of a bouncy ball or a soft shoe sole that moves when you press it
- ✓Sounds like "rubber" → imagine rubbing something soft and stretchy with your hand
- ✓Remember the eraser on the end of a pencil that helps fix mistakes by rubbing
- ✓NOT like "metal" (hard and not flexible), rubber is soft and bends easily
- ✓NOT like "glass" (breaks easily), rubber stretches without breaking
- ✓NOT like "cloth" (fabric), rubber is a solid material that can be waterproof and elastic (stretchy)
- ✓NOT like "plastic" (can be hard or soft), rubber is usually more elastic and bouncy
Try Other Words
- •Latex: natural rubber material (Use when emphasizing natural rubber from trees)
- •Elastic: stretchy material or quality (Use when focusing on stretchiness rather than the material)
- •Gum: informal for rubbery substances (Use in casual speech, less precise)
- •Synthetic rubber: man-made rubber (Use when talking about artificial rubber)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No prefix or suffix; "rubber" is a simple root word
- •Etymology: From Old English "rubber" meaning "something rubbed," because early rubber was discovered by rubbing tree sap
- •Historical development: The use of rubber became popular in the 18th century when people found it could erase pencil marks and make waterproof items
- •Modern usage: Used for many products like tires, erasers, gloves, and elastic bands; both natural and synthetic rubber are common today
Reflect & Connect
•How does the flexibility of rubber help in everyday objects around you?
•Can you think of situations where rubber’s stretchiness could be a problem instead of a help?
Fill in the blanks
1.The car’s tires are made of rubber because it needs to ___ and hold the road well.
2.When you stretch a rubber band, it ___ back to its original shape.
3.Rubber gloves are used to protect hands from ___ liquids or chemicals.
4.Unlike cloth, rubber is ___ and does not let water pass through.
5.The eraser is made of rubber, so it can ___ pencil marks by rubbing.
6.Rubber boots are worn to keep feet ___ in wet or muddy places.
7.When the rubber on the sole wears out, shoes can become ___ and slippery.