How Do You Spell CARBORUNDUM?

Pronunciation: [kˌɑːbɔːɹˈʌndəm] (IPA)

Carborundum, a trademarked form of silicon carbide, is a material commonly used in grinding and cutting applications. Its spelling reflects its chemical composition: "carbo" denotes the presence of carbon, while "rundum" comes from the Latin word "ruber," meaning red, referring to the mineral's color. Its IPA phonetic transcription is kɑrbəˈrʌndəm. Despite its tricky spelling, carborundum's unique properties make it a valuable material in the manufacturing industry.

CARBORUNDUM Meaning and Definition

1. Carborundum is a noun that refers to a hard, brittle, and crystalline material mostly composed of silicon carbide. It is a synthetic compound that is widely used as an abrasive and cutting tool owing to its extreme hardness. The term "carborundum" is also used as a brand name for products made from this compound.

   Carborundum is typically formed through the reaction of silicon and carbon at high temperatures. The resulting material is dark gray or black in color and features excellent mechanical properties, including high thermal conductivity and electrical resistance. Due to its hardness, carborundum is commonly employed in industrial applications that require grinding or polishing surfaces, as it can effectively remove material and produce a smooth finish. This material is often utilized in the manufacturing of grinding wheels, cutting tools, and sandpaper.

   The term "carborundum" is derived from the combination of the elements carbon and corundum, a naturally occurring mineral that is one of the hardest substances on Earth. While carborundum is man-made, it possesses similar hardness and abrasive characteristics as corundum, making it a valuable and widely used material in various industries.

2. Carbide of silicon, SiC, a substance of extreme hardness used for polishing in place of emery.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for CARBORUNDUM

• xarborundum
• varborundum
• farborundum
• darborundum
• czrborundum
• csrborundum
• cwrborundum
• cqrborundum
• caeborundum
• cadborundum
• cafborundum
• catborundum
• ca5borundum
• ca4borundum
• carvorundum
• carnorundum
• carhorundum
• cargorundum
• carborundim
• carborunudm
• Carborondum
• Carbuneum

Etymology of CARBORUNDUM

The word "carborundum" is a trademarked name for silicon carbide, which is an abrasive material. Its etymology can be traced back to its chemical composition. The term was created by the combination of "carbon" and "corundum", which is a crystalline form of aluminum oxide. The name was chosen to highlight the similarity between silicon carbide and corundum in terms of hardness and abrasiveness.

Idioms with the word CARBORUNDUM

• Carborundum

Plural form of CARBORUNDUM is CARBORUNDUMS