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Glite Dictionary
polystyrene

polystyrene

4 6.5
A hard, light plastic used for cups, boxes, and packing foam
  • noun
  • /ˌpɑːlɪˈstaɪriːn/
  • Specialized
: poliestireno
  • The floating platform is usually made of polystyrene and holds the pots in which the plants are stored.
  • polystyrene foam
  • polystyrene packaging
  • polystyrene products

OK, so I've taken the finger parts to check polystyrene.

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Examples

  • " Foamcore is an inexpensive art material consisting of a layer of polystyrene foam sandwiched between two layers of heavy paper.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The shipping company used polystyrene for packing materials to keep fragile items safe during transport.

  • Although both film and expanded polystyrene initially were considered, both were eliminated in the final negotiating process.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Thus, users of polystyrene in the fast-food industry, for example, always must use newly made polystyrene.

    Academic text (1991)

  • George is alone in a cubicle of his own, cutting polystyrene with a hot wire.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • I wouldn't have thought polystyrene was very waterproof, but obviously here must be.

  • Basic plan is to wrap this all around the polystyrene and wet it through with polyester resin.

  • Several states have prohibited the use of polystyrene manufactured from fully halogenated CFCs.

    Academic text (1991)

  • In the domestic zone, mechanical workshops, an ice-making plant, and a polystyrene box-making plant are in place or near completion.

    Academic text (1990)

  • In addition, Portland, Oregon, passed an ordinance barring the serving of prepared food in any polystyrene foam products.

    Academic text (1991)

Surface Forms

polystyrene singular
polystyrenes plural

Morphology

polystyrene = styrene (opaque) = poly + styrene

Although the word is formally built from poly- plus styrene, the chemical meaning is specialized and not directly recoverable for most learners from the base word alone.

Etymology

Polystyrene combines poly- meaning 'many', as in polygon, and styrene, the name of a small chemical first made from a plant resin called 'styrax'. So polystyrene really means many styrene parts joined together, which explains why it is a plastic made of repeating small pieces and why it is light and a good insulator.