Definition & Meaning of "rubber"

Rubber

NOUN

a small tool that is used to remove the marks of a pencil from a piece of paper

Dialect

British

eraser

American

Example

She reached for the rubber to erase her mistake on the math test.

He lent his rubber to a friend who needed to fix a drawing.

a durable, waterproof overshoe designed to be worn over regular shoes, providing protection from water, snow, and muddy conditions

Example

She slipped on her rubbers before stepping out into the snowy street.

The old man always wore rubbers to keep his shoes dry during the rainy season.

a material that is elastic, water-resistant, and often used in various products such as tires, gloves, and erasers

Example

The mechanic replaced the worn-out tires with new rubber ones.

She always wore rubber gloves while doing the dishes to protect her hands.

a piece of soft material, often made of felt or foam, used for erasing chalk marks from a blackboard or pen marks from a whiteboard

Example

The teacher reached for the rubber to erase the math problems from the blackboard.

She accidentally dropped the rubber, making a small thud on the classroom floor.

contraceptive device consisting of a sheath of thin rubber or latex that is worn over the penis during intercourse

a series of games in which one partnership must win two games, with the total score determining the winner

What is a "rubber"?

In card games like bridge, a rubber is a series of games played between two teams. To win a rubber, a team needs to win two games. Each game is made up of several hands, and the team that wins two games first wins the rubber. The rubber is a way to keep track of who is winning over a longer period of play, instead of just focusing on one game. It gives a team a chance to recover if they lose the first game, and the rubber winner is the team that wins the most games.

Example

The bridge club was thrilled when they finally won the rubber after an intense match.

They played a rubber of three games to determine the ultimate winner.

any of various synthetic elastic materials whose properties resemble natural rubber

to rubber

VERB

to coat or impregnate an object or material with rubber to enhance its properties such as durability, waterproofing, or grip

Example

The manufacturer decided to rubber the gloves for better durability.

They rubbered the fabric to make it waterproof.

rubber

ADJECTIVE