Rubberband

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A resilient loop formed from elastic material is often utilized to bind and secure objects together in various contexts
2. This elastic strip, characterized by its stretchiness, is commonly employed for holding items in place and organizing them
3. A flexible band made of elastic material is typically used for fastening items together or for providing tension in various applications

Etymology: The word is simply a compound of "rubber" and "band," and each half has its own story. "Rubber" comes from the English verb "rub," because the earliest rubbers were erasers: the substance was prized for rubbing out pencil marks, a use recorded from the 1700s. "Band" traces back to the Old English "bindan," to bind, and in its sense of a strip or loop it has long meant something that holds things together. Put the two together and you get a loop that binds things by stretching. Written as two words, "rubber band" is the standard form, and the single-word spelling "rubberband" is an alternative of it. Both are used, though the two-word form is the more common.

Synonyms: elastic band, gum band