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polyurethane

noun
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poly·​ure·​thane | \ ˌpä-lē-ˈyu̇r-ə-ˌthān How to pronounce polyurethane (audio) \

Definition of polyurethane

: any of various polymers that contain NHCOO linkages and are used especially in flexible and rigid foams, elastomers, and resins (as for coatings)

Examples of polyurethane in a Sentence

The floor will need two coats of polyurethane.
Recent Examples on the Web Some ramps and stairs are made of thick-density polyurethane foam, which is superior, so expect to pay more. — Washington Post, "Hints From Heloise: New products for the puppers," 12 Oct. 2019 In addition to the vacuum panels, the V Series has a layer of the same commercial-grade polyurethane foam used in the Tundra. — Adrienne Donica, Popular Mechanics, "We Tested Yeti's New V Series. It's Even Better than the Tundra.," 11 Nov. 2019 About a decade ago, athletes wearing Speedo’s full-body LZR swimsuits made with polyurethane broke more than 130 swimming records. — Marc Bain, Quartzy, "Will Nike’s shoes decide the New York City Marathon’s next winner?," 1 Nov. 2019 Walmart sells teal plastic pumpkins, pails and paint kits, and Target sells a carve-able polyurethane version. — Alexia Elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, "Halloween doesn’t have to stink for kids with food allergies. Just look for the teal pumpkins.," 25 Oct. 2019 These are two-component acrylic-polyurethane finishes, which Haridi said result in an especially smooth, durable finish. — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, "Repainting an old exterior door is a serious undertaking," 21 Oct. 2019 The key to the pieces’ smoothness is their makeup, which is 90 percent polyester and 10 percent polyurethane. — Erin Cunningham, Condé Nast Traveler, "This Packable Women’s Suit Doesn’t Need a Garment Bag," 25 Sep. 2019 After the stain dries, apply three coats of satin polyurethane. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "Your Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Platform Bed Frame," 30 Aug. 2019 But a chemical tweak can turn polyurethane into glue. — Christine Herman, Scientific American, "Chemical Tweak Recycles Polyurethane into Glue," 4 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'polyurethane.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of polyurethane

1939, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for polyurethane

International Scientific Vocabulary

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Time Traveler for polyurethane

Time Traveler

The first known use of polyurethane was in 1939

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Statistics for polyurethane

Last Updated

30 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Polyurethane.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polyurethane. Accessed 10 December 2019.

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More Definitions for polyurethane

polyurethane

noun
How to pronounce polyurethane (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of polyurethane

: a type of plastic that is used to make various products and especially to make a clear liquid that is spread on a surface (such as a wooden floor) and that becomes hard when it dries

See the full definition for polyurethane in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on polyurethane

Nglish: Translation of polyurethane for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about polyurethane

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