Word: rubber Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From rub + -er. The sense of the substance comes from its ability to function as an eraser, displacing earlier caoutchouc. The senses not pertaining to rubbing or erasing are secondarily derived from the name of the substance. Pronunciation: /ˈɹʌbə/, /ˈɹʌbɚ/, /ˈɹɐbə/, /ˈɹʊbə/, /ˈɹʊbəɹ/ 1. Pliable material derived from the sap of the rubber tree; a hydrocarbon biopolymer of isoprene. Labels: countable, uncountable, usually 2. Natural rubber or any of various synthetic materials with similar properties as natural rubber. Labels: countable, uncountable, usually 3. An eraser. Labels: Australia, Brunei, India, New-Zealand, UK, countable, usually Example: For example, they may use paddle pop sticks, hand span, pencils, rubbers, mathematics equipment (i.e. base 10 material) or anything else the teacher can find to measure the lengths of nominated objects. Example: Drawing materials, he thought, I used to love drawing as a lad. I can afford some plain paper and pencils, surely? And a rubber, too. He smiled at the memory of an elderly uncle, also fond of drawing, who′d always called rubbers ‘lead eaters’. 4. A condom, especially an external condom. Labels: Canada, US, countable, slang, usually Example: And the rubbers you hide / In your top left pocket Example: Don't have sex, because you will get pregnant and die! Don't have sex in the missionary position, don't have sex standing up, just don't do it, OK, promise? OK, now everybody take some rubbers. 5. Someone or something which rubs. Labels: countable, usually Example: What perplexity plagues the chin-rubber in the foreground and what so discourages the man leaning on the lamp post? And to what doom is the large man at right moving? Photographer Cowherd has no answers. 6. Someone or something which rubs. Labels: countable, uncountable, usually 7. Someone or something which rubs. Labels: countable, uncountable, usually Example: I curl his perriwig, paint his cheeks, perfume his breath; I am his froterer or rubber in a hot-house 8. Someone or something which rubs. Labels: countable, uncountable, usually 9. Someone or something which rubs. Labels: countable, uncountable, usually 10. The cushion of an electric machine. Labels: historical, uncountable, usually 11. The rectangular pad on the pitcher's mound from which the pitcher must pitch. Labels: countable, usually Example: Jones toes the rubber and then fires to the plate. 12. Water-resistant shoe covers, galoshes, overshoes. Labels: Canada, US, in-plural, uncountable, usually Example: Johnny, don't forget your rubbers today. Example: He set aside his aunt’s counsel in regard to a better regimen, as well as her more specific hints, made in view of the near approach of rough weather, that he provide himself with rubbers and an umbrella, even if he would not hear of a rain-coat. 13. Tires, particularly racing tires. Labels: slang, uncountable, usually Example: Jones enters the pits to get new rubber. 14. A hardship or misfortune. Labels: dated, slang, uncountable, usually Example: The British barges, off New-London, sometimes meet with the rubbers. In an attack upon an armed smack, some days ago, they were beaten off, with the reported loss of 8 men killed. Example: 'Twas a bit gone December, / As I well remember, / I met with a rubber, and got some advice; […]