I. ˈrəbə(r) noun
( -s )
1.
a. : one that rubs: as
(1) : one who polishes a finish (as of wood or metal furniture)
(2) : one that massages especially in a public bath
(3) : a textile worker who removes processing marks from cloth
b. : an instrument or object used in rubbing, polishing, scraping, or cleaning: as
(1) : a towel or brush used for cleaning
(2) : whetstone , rubstone
(3) : eraser ; especially : one made of rubber
(4) : a piece of firm cloth used in grooming a horse especially for rubbing down the coat when wet or for giving a final gloss after brushing and currying
c. : something that operates by or is used to prevent rubbing, chafing, or friction: as
(1) : a wooden strip protecting the outside of the gunwales of an open boat
(2) : a rough or prepared surface to ignite a match by friction
d.
(1) : a rough uneven place in a bowling green
(2) : impediment , difficulty
(3) : misfortune , trouble
e. : a soft brick : cutter
2.
[so called from its use in erasers]
a. : a substance that is obtained from the latex of many tropical plants especially of the genera Hevea and Ficus, is usually characterized by its elasticity though its properties vary widely depending upon its source and preparation, is usually prepared by coagulating the latex (as with formic acid), collecting the sticky coagulum, and either milling into rough sheets of crepe rubber or rolling into smooth or ribbed sheets and drying often by smoking, and is used chiefly in crepe soles and rubber cements — called also caoutchouc, india rubber, natural rubber ; see para rubber 1, plantation rubber , wild rubber
b. : any of various rubberlike substances that like natural rubber can be vulcanized : a vulcanizable elastomer : synthetic rubber
c. : natural or synthetic rubber that has been modified to increase its useful properties (as elasticity, toughness, resistance to abrasive wear) usually by masticating, compounding with sulfur or other vulcanizing agents and with various chemicals (as accelerators, zinc oxide, carbon black or other reinforcing pigments, fillers, softeners, extenders, and antioxidants), forming, and vulcanizing and that is used chiefly in tires, hose, belting, friction materials, containers, electric insulation, and waterproof materials, often in combination with textile fabrics, metals, or other materials
3. : something made of rubber or felt to resemble rubber (as in composition or elasticity): as
a. : an overshoe of rubber ; especially : one having no buckles and not extending as high as the ankle — compare galosh , storm rubber , toe rubber
b. : rubber band
c.
(1) : a rubber tire
(2) : the set of tires on a vehicle
I'll road test her for you after we get new rubber on — Gregor Felsen
d. : the puck used in ice hockey
e.
(1) : the pitcher's plate in baseball or softball
(2) : home plate
f. : condom
4.
[by shortening]
: rubberneck
5. : a security issued by a tire and rubber company
II. adjective
1. : made of rubber
2. : producing rubber
III. transitive verb
( rubbered ; rubbered ; rubbering -b(ə)riŋ ; rubbers )
1. : to make of rubber
2. : to coat with rubber : rubberize
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : a contest consisting of a specified odd number of games so that to win one side must take a majority (as two out of three, three out of five, or four out of seven)
2. : a victory determined by the winning of a majority of a series of games
3. or rubber game : an odd game played to determine the winner when two sides have reached a tie
V. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: by shortening
: rubberneck