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elastic band

elastic band

4 1.0
A thin loop of stretchy rubber that holds things together
  • noun
  • /ɪˈlæstɪk bænd/
  • UK
translation icon : goma elástica
  • The box was secured with an elastic band to prevent it from opening.
  • secure the elastic band
  • wrap with an elastic band
  • hold with an elastic band

OK, we're hole punching the corner, putting an elastic band through.

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Examples

  • Seasickness bracelets are elastic bands with plastic bumps that apply pressure to points on the wrist.

    Blog text (10)
  • I used an elastic band to keep the stack of papers together.

  • Let me get an elastic band to get that out of the way.

  • Obviously, I'm going to want to use the elastic band to put the cake.

  • OK, you want to secure the top with your first elastic band so the rice doesn't come out like so.

  • The students used common household products such as a Styrofoam cup, a pencil, a paper clip, an elastic band, and a pen.

    Academic text (2007)
  • First I would get the larger washer and two smaller ones and put it on your disc and it comes with a little elastic band you can put on.

  • As was her tradition, she wore baggy gabardine pants with an elastic band that made marks on her stomach.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Once you tie up the 10 tulle pieces to the 2 elastic bands, you'll end up with 2 tulle skirts.

    Blog text (21)
  • Draping a veil around her head with an elastic band, Helen twirled barefoot around our living room, pretending to be a fortune teller.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

band
vselastic band
108 1.0

A thin loop of material that holds or moves parts together

is narrower in material and used specifically to hold small objects
rubber band
vselastic band
37 1.1

A thin loop of stretchy rubber that holds things together

is the same object but defined as thin and for small items like papers
elastic
vselastic band
  • UK
2 2.0

A small round band of rubber used to hold things together

is the same loop but emphasises thinness and use for papers

How Stretchy

bungee cord
3 3.7
elastic band
  • UK
4 1.0
rubber band
37 1.1
scrunchie
7 2.8

Surface Forms

elastic band singular
elastic bands plural

Morphology

elastic + band

The meaning 'a thin, narrow loop of stretchable rubber used to hold objects together' is directly and compositionally derivable from 'elastic' (stretchable) + 'band' (a loop or strip). This noun–noun compound follows a common and transparent naming pattern found across many languages (e.g., rubber band equivalents), so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.

Etymology

The noun elastic band comes from the simple image of a thin loop of rubber that stretches. Elastic means 'able to stretch' and band is a strip that goes around things, so the name shows it is a stretchy loop used to 'hold things together'.