ENGLISH
REFERENCE

rubber

n. · adj.
US //ˈɹəbɝ// UK //ɹˈʌbɐ// rub·ber
  1. 1 elastic material (n.)
    A2 Elementary Science

    a strong, flexible material made from the sap of a tree or from chemicals.

    a tough, elastic, polymeric substance made from the latex of tropical plants or produced synthetically.

    Example

    The soles of these hiking boots are made of thick, durable rubber.

    Example

    Modern industrial manufacturing relies heavily on synthetic rubber for the production of seals, gaskets, and heavy-duty vehicle tyres.
  2. 2 pencil eraser (n.)
    A2 Elementary British English

    a small piece of rubber or plastic used to remove pencil marks from paper.

    an implement, typically made of rubber or vinyl, used for removing markings made by a pencil.

    Example

    I made a mistake in my drawing, so I used a rubber to fix it.

    Example

    The student reached into her pencil case for a rubber to clean up the stray graphite marks on her technical diagram.

    Teacher's tip

    In American English, this is almost exclusively called an 'eraser'. Using 'rubber' in the US for this object may cause confusion or amusement due to its slang meaning.
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 condom (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Slang Informal Medicine

    a thin rubber covering worn during sex to prevent pregnancy or disease.

    a sheath, typically made of latex, used as a contraceptive and a barrier against sexually transmitted infections.

    Example

    The health clinic provides free rubbers and advice on safe sex.

    Example

    Public health campaigns in the 1990s frequently used informal terms like 'rubbers' to make discussions about safe sex more accessible to teenagers.
  2. 4 series of games (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Formal Sport

    a series of games, especially in bridge or cricket, where the winner is the one who wins the most matches.

    a contest consisting of a series of matches, typically the best of three or five, between two sides.

    Example

    The two teams are tied, so the final rubber will decide the tournament winner.

    Example

    After winning the first two matches convincingly, the visiting team secured the rubber with one game still left to play.
  3. 5 car tyres (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Sport

    the tyres on a vehicle, especially in racing.

    the tyres of a motor vehicle, particularly in the context of automotive racing and tyre performance.

    Example

    The driver went into the pits to get some fresh rubber for the final laps.

    Example

    The pit crew worked frantically to change the rubber, as the driver complained of losing grip on the overheating asphalt.
  4. 6 bounced check (adj.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang

    used to describe a bank check that cannot be paid because there is no money in the account.

    referring to a cheque that is returned by a bank due to insufficient funds.

    Example

    He tried to pay with a rubber check, but the shop owner refused it.

    Example

    The landlord became suspicious after receiving a rubber cheque for the third month in a row.
Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

Unknown.

Idioms5 entries

© 2026 English Reference