# rubber

/ˈɹəbɝ/ (US) · /ɹˈʌbɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rubber
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. elastic material

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The soles of these hiking boots are made of thick, durable rubber.
- Modern industrial manufacturing relies heavily on synthetic rubber for the production of seals, gaskets, and heavy-duty vehicle tyres.

### 2. pencil eraser

noun · CEFR A2 · British English

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

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

- I made a mistake in my drawing, so I used a rubber to fix it.
- The student reached into her pencil case for a rubber to clean up the stray graphite marks on her technical diagram.

Teaching 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.

### 3. condom

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Slang · Informal

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

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

- The health clinic provides free rubbers and advice on safe sex.
- Public health campaigns in the 1990s frequently used informal terms like 'rubbers' to make discussions about safe sex more accessible to teenagers.

### 4. series of games

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

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

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

- The two teams are tied, so the final rubber will decide the tournament winner.
- After winning the first two matches convincingly, the visiting team secured the rubber with one game still left to play.

### 5. car tyres

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

the tyres on a vehicle, especially in racing.

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

- The driver went into the pits to get some fresh rubber for the final laps.
- The pit crew worked frantically to change the rubber, as the driver complained of losing grip on the overheating asphalt.

### 6. bounced check

adjective · CEFR C2 · Slang

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

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

- He tried to pay with a rubber check, but the shop owner refused it.
- The landlord became suspicious after receiving a rubber cheque for the third month in a row.

## Examples

- These boots are made of thick rubber.
- The car skidded on the wet road because the rubber on the tires was worn down and smooth.
- While natural rubber remains essential for high-performance aviation tires, synthetic alternatives have largely replaced it in consumer goods due to their lower production costs and chemical stability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.