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polystyrene
noun
poly·sty·rene
ˌpä-lē-ˈstī-ˌrēn
: a polymer of styrene
especially
: a rigid transparent thermoplastic that has good physical and electrical insulating properties and is used especially in molded products, foams, and sheet materials
Examples of polystyrene in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Seeking a way to put all that polystyrene waste to use, researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), in collaboration with Riga Technical University in Latvia, have invented a thin patch made out of multiple layers of the material.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2024
First, a single layer of polystyrene beads is arranged in a hexagonal pattern on a quartz substrate.
—New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2024
And another!) and dialogue that works like polystyrene stuffing, filling the cracks with Modi’s half-baked musings on the happy lives of pigeons or long quotes from Charles Baudelaire, poet and patron saint of dissipation.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024
If the products are contaminated with other plastics, such as PVC or polystyrene, the outcome isn’t good.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1927, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near polystyrene
Cite this Entry
“Polystyrene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polystyrene. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
polystyrene
noun
poly·sty·rene
ˌpäl-i-ˈstī(ə)r-ˌēn
: a stiff transparent plastic used chiefly in molded products, foams, and sheet materials
Medical Definition
polystyrene
noun
poly·sty·rene
ˌpäl-i-ˈstī(ə)r-ˌēn
: a polymer of styrene
especially
: a rigid transparent thermoplastic that has good physical and electrical insulating properties and is used especially in molded products, foams, and sheet materials
More from Merriam-Webster on polystyrene
Nglish: Translation of polystyrene for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about polystyrene
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