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Glite Dictionary
ebonite

ebonite

9.9
A hard black rubber that is treated with sulfur and used for electrical insulation and pens
  • noun
  • /ˈɛbəˌnaɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ebonita
  • Ebonite International Inc., a manufacturer in Hopkinsville, Ky., uses fly ash as ballast to adjust the heft of its bowling balls.

Examples

  • With its sturdy composition, ebonite is often used to make components like handles for various tools.

  • The manufacturer uses ebonite in the production of electrical insulators because of its high resistance to heat.

  • Many companies prefer ebonite for producing circuit breakers due to its insulative properties.

Synonyms

hard rubber
vsebonite
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A very hard material made from tree sap and heated to become stiff, used for pen barrels or handles

is made with much higher sulfur content producing greater hardness
vulcanite
vsebonite
  • Archaic
9.9

A hard kind of rubber used to make false teeth and combs

is used mainly for electrical insulation rather than dental use

How Hard

Bakelite
  • Archaic
2 9.2
ebonite
  • Specialized
9.9
natural rubber
  • Specialized
1 2.9

Surface Forms

ebonite singular
ebonites plural

Morphology

ebonite = ebon (opaque) = ebon + ite

The suffix '-ite' typically denotes minerals or derived substances, but the specific meaning of 'ebonite' as a type of rubber is not transparently derived from 'ebon'.

Etymology

Ebonite comes from ebony ('very dark wood') and the ending -ite, often used for materials. It was named because this hard, black rubber looks and feels like ebony wood, which is why ebonite means that tough, black rubber used for things like pen parts and electrical insulators.