Word
polystyrene
Phoneticspoly·styrene
US/ˌpɑˌɫiˈstaɪˌɹin/
UK/pˌɒlɪstˈaɪɹiːn/
Definition
n. a hard, white plastic that is very light and used to make things like cups, plates, and packaging. It is also used to make foam for insulation.
n. a synthetic polymer of styrene, used in the production of rigid and flexible foams, as well as disposable plastic goods. Often used in its expanded form for thermal insulation and packaging.
Examples
“The shop uses polystyrene to keep the food warm.”
“The construction company switched from wood to polystyrene for the walls to improve the building's energy efficiency.”
“While polystyrene is prized for its low weight and insulating properties, its environmental impact has led many manufacturers to seek biodegradable alternatives for single-use packaging.”
Examples
simple
“The shop uses polystyrene to keep the food warm.”
contextual
“The construction company switched from wood to polystyrene for the walls to improve the building's energy efficiency.”
complex
“While polystyrene is prized for its low weight and insulating properties, its environmental impact has led many manufacturers to seek biodegradable alternatives for single-use packaging.”
Etymology
From poly- + styrene.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/polystyrene