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rubber tree
noun
: a tree that yields rubber
especially
: a South American tree (Hevea brasiliensis) of the spurge family that is cultivated in plantations and is a chief source of rubber
Examples of rubber tree in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The couple already had a son of their own living at their ranch-style house in a working class part of La Puente, with a papaya tree out front and a rubber tree in the back.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024
Latex Once sourced from a species of rubber tree, most latex-containing items, including pillows, use synthetic styrene-butadiene.
—Brianna Kamienski, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024
Plus, it’s made from renewable rubber tree wood, and for every tree used to build this toy, another one is planted.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024
Name: Hoya carnosa Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 55-75°F; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: 4-12 feet tall, 2-6 feet wide
12 of 23
Rubber Tree
A classic houseplant, the rubber tree gets its name from the sticky, milky sap it exudes from cuts.
—Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2023
Natural latex is made from rubber tree sap while synthetic latex is a type of manufactured rubber with similar properties.
—Grace Wu, Good Housekeeping, 18 May 2022
Native to Asian countries like India and Indonesia, Ficus elastica is known as the rubber plant, rubber tree, rubber fig, and rubber bush, along with other names.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2023
Like rubber trees, poinsettias exude a natural latex sap — a milky fluid that can seep out when parts of the plant are torn or broken.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023
Natural latex is sustainable, made from the sap of rubber trees.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rubber tree.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1847, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near rubber tree
Cite this Entry
“Rubber tree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubber%20tree. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
rubber tree
noun
: a tree that produces rubber
especially
: a South American tree that is often grown on plantations as a commercial source of rubber
More from Merriam-Webster on rubber tree
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rubber tree
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