neoprene
Meanings
noun
- A synthetic rubber, a polymer of chloroprene, commonly used in wetsuits, laptop sleeves, orthopedic braces, electrical insulation, liquid and sheet-applied elastomeric membranes and flashings, car fan belts, etc.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
US, 1930s; genericized trademark for DuPont brand of polychloroprene. neo- (“new”) + isoprene (dropping the iso-), the latter from terpene. Originally called duprene (blend of DuPont and isoprene); the “new” is because neoprene was the first mass-produced general-purpose synthetic rubber.
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