rubber
rubber — 名詞
1. a flexible material that comes from the sap of certain tropical trees or is prod
橡膠
有彈性的天然或合成材料
a flexible material that comes from the sap of certain tropical trees or is produced in factories, and is used for making items such as tyres, gloves, balls, and bands.
The soles of Chidi's running shoes are made of hard rubber that grips the track.
Chidi 的跑鞋鞋底是用能抓緊跑道的硬橡膠做的。
uncountable: made of rubber
A rubber band can stretch to twice its length before it breaks.
一條橡皮筋可以拉伸到原長的兩倍而不斷裂。
compound noun: rubber band
Linh wears rubber gloves when she cleans the bathroom with bleach.
Linh 用漂白水清潔浴室時會戴上橡膠手套。
Factories near Selim's town turn tree sap into sheets of rubber for export.
Selim 家附近的工廠把樹液製成橡膠片出口。
- plastic
can be rigid rather than elastic, though some plastics are flexible
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the material itself. Countable when referring to specific items made of it (e.g. rubbers = overshoes).
常見錯誤
2. a small object, usually made from rubber, that you rub across pencil marks on pa
橡皮擦
清除鉛筆痕跡的擦具
a small object, usually made from rubber, that you rub across pencil marks on paper to make them go away.
The rubber at the end of Sivan's pencil was worn down to the metal band.
Sivan 鉛筆尾端的橡皮擦已經磨到金屬箍了。
Cheap rubbers often leave dark smudges on the page instead of cleaning it.
便宜的橡皮擦常常在紙上留下黑色污漬，而不是把紙擦乾淨。
countable plural: rubbers
Ezra asked Diego if he could borrow a rubber to fix the mistake on his test paper.
Ezra 問 Diego 能不能借他橡皮擦，改掉考卷上的錯誤。
When you press too hard with a rubber, the paper underneath may tear.
用橡皮擦太用力的話，底下的紙可能會破。
- eraser
standard American English term; also used in British English but less common than 'rubber'
用法筆記
Standard word in British English for an eraser. In American English, 'eraser' is more common and 'rubber' may be mistaken for the condom sense. Learners should be aware of this regional difference.
常見錯誤
3. an informal word for a condom — a thin rubber covering worn on the penis during
保險套；套
避孕或預防性病的橡膠套
an informal word for a condom — a thin rubber covering worn on the penis during sex to prevent pregnancy or stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
David bought a pack of rubbers at the pharmacy before his trip overseas.
David 出國前在藥局買了一盒保險套。
The health clinic's pamphlet uses the word 'condom' instead of 'rubber' to sound more professional.
健康診所的宣傳單用「condom」而不用「rubber」，聽起來更專業。
register contrast: 'condom' (formal) vs 'rubber' (informal)
Ritu reminded her younger brother to carry a rubber once he started dating.
Ritu 提醒弟弟等開始約會以後要記得隨身帶保險套。
The nurse explained that using a rubber correctly every time greatly reduces the risk of infection.
護理師解釋說，每次正確使用保險套可以大幅降低感染風險。
- condom
the standard neutral term; appropriate for all contexts including medical and formal
- prophylactic
formal or technical term; less common in everyday speech
- protection
euphemistic; often used in phrases like 'use protection'
用法筆記
Very informal. Common in spoken American English and in movies. In formal writing, medical settings, or educational materials, 'condom' is the appropriate term. May cause confusion with the 'eraser' sense in British English.
常見錯誤
4. a rectangular strip of rubber set into the pitcher's mound in baseball, which th
投手板
棒球投手踏板的橡膠條
a rectangular strip of rubber set into the pitcher's mound in baseball, which the pitcher must touch with one foot at the start of each throw.
Henrik wiped his forehead and stepped onto the rubber, ready for the next batter.
Henrik 擦了擦額頭上的汗，踏上投手板準備面對下一名打者。
collocation: step onto the rubber
The umpire signalled a balk because the pitcher's foot was not touching the rubber when he threw.
裁判判定投球犯規，因為投手投球時腳沒有踩在投手板上。
Before each pitch, the pitcher taps the rubber twice and waits for the catcher's signal.
每次投球前，投手會輕踩投手板兩下，等待捕手暗號。
The grounds crew painted the rubber bright white the morning of the championship game.
球場工作人員在冠軍賽當天早上把投手板漆成亮白色。
- pitcher's plate
the official baseball term for the same object; more formal
用法筆記
Almost always appears with the definite article ('the rubber'). This sense is used almost exclusively in baseball commentary and sports journalism. Not used outside North America.
5. waterproof covers made of rubber, worn over ordinary shoes to keep them dry in w
橡膠套鞋
穿在鞋外的防水橡膠套
waterproof covers made of rubber, worn over ordinary shoes to keep them dry in wet or snowy weather.
Grandpa pulled on his old rubbers before stepping out into the pouring rain.
爺爺穿上舊橡膠套鞋，才踏進傾盆大雨中。
collocation: pull on rubbers
A pair of black rubbers sat by the back door next to the wooden umbrella stand.
後門邊放著一雙黑色橡膠套鞋，旁邊是木頭傘架。
Yael's grandmother insisted that the children wear rubbers to keep their school shoes clean on muddy days.
Yael 的奶奶堅持孩子們穿橡膠套鞋，以免泥巴天弄髒學校鞋子。
Rubbers were once a common sight in school cloakrooms across the country during winter.
冬天時，橡膠套鞋曾經是全國學校衣帽間裡常見的景象。
- galoshes
the more common term today for rubber overshoes
- overshoes
a general term for any footwear worn over regular shoes
- wellies / Wellington boots
British term for tall rubber boots, not just overshoes
用法筆記
Dated term. In modern usage, 'galoshes' or simply 'rain boots' / 'wellies' (British informal) are more common. Older American speakers may still use 'rubbers' for this meaning.
6. the final match or game in a series — typically a best-of-three or best-of-five
決勝局
決定系列賽勝負的關鍵局
the final match or game in a series — typically a best-of-three or best-of-five contest — that decides the overall winner when each side has an equal number of wins so far.
The cricket series was tied at one match each, so the third game became the rubber.
板球系列賽戰成一比一平手，因此第三場就成了決勝局。
collocation: become the rubber
The Watanabe sisters won the first two rounds of bridge, taking the rubber without needing a third.
渡邊姊妹贏了橋牌頭兩局，不需要打第三局就拿下了決勝局。
A rubber in a five-match test series can last for several days and draw huge crowds.
五場制測試賽中的決勝局可以連打好幾天，吸引大批觀眾。
The team captain decided that the rubber would be played the following afternoon at the main stadium.
隊長決定決勝局在隔天下午於主球場舉行。
- rubber match
the deciding game in a series; interchangeable with 'rubber' in many contexts
- decider
informal term for any match that decides the winner of a series
- final game
neutral and widely understood, but lacks the specific 'tied series' nuance
用法筆記
Most common in British English — especially cricket (where a whole series is called a 'rubber') and card games such as bridge and whist. In American English, this sense is rare outside of bridge clubs.