caoutchouc
/'kautʃuk/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A natural elastic material: "caoutchouc" refers to a naturally occurring elastic substance derived from the latex sap of certain tropical trees, most notably the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). It is the raw, unprocessed form of natural rubber before vulcanization.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The early industrial use of caoutchouc was limited by its tendency to become sticky in heat and brittle in cold.
- Explorers brought samples of caoutchouc back to Europe from South America.
Advanced Usage
- Technical/Historical Context: The term "caoutchouc" is primarily used in historical, botanical, or technical contexts to refer to the raw material. In modern everyday language, "natural rubber" is more common.
- The chemical composition of caoutchouc is primarily polyisoprene.
Variants and Related Words
- Rubber (n): The more common general term for the vulcanized, finished material derived from caoutchouc.
- Tires are made from vulcanized rubber.
- Latex (n): The milky fluid tapped from trees, which is coagulated to form raw caoutchouc.
- Workers collect latex from rubber trees.
Synonyms
- Natural rubber: The processed, usable material made from caoutchouc.
- India rubber: An older synonym for rubber/caoutchouc.
Related Phrases
- Gum elastic: An archaic term historically used for caoutchouc.
Noun
- an elastic material obtained from the latex sap of trees (especially trees of the genera Hevea and Ficus) that can be vulcanized and finished into a variety of products