rubber

I. noun Date: 1536 1. a. one that rubs b. an instrument or object (as a rubber eraser) used in rubbing, polishing, scraping, or cleaning c. something that prevents rubbing or chafing 2. [from its use in erasers] a. an elastic substance that is obtained by coagulating the milky juice of any of various tropical plants (as of the genera Hevea and Ficus), is essentially a polymer of isoprene, and is prepared as sheets and then dried — called also caoutchouc, india rubber b. any of various synthetic rubberlike substances c. natural or synthetic rubber modified by chemical treatment to increase its useful properties (as toughness and resistance to wear) and used especially in tires, electrical insulation, and waterproof materials 3. something made of or resembling rubber: as a. a rubber overshoe b. (1) a rubber tire (2) the set of tires on a vehicle c. a rectangular slab of white rubber in the middle of a baseball infield on which a pitcher stands while pitching d. condom 1 • rubber adjective II. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1599 1. a contest consisting of an odd number of games won by the side that takes a majority (as two out of three) 2. an odd game played to determine the winner of a tie