silicone

noun sil·i·cone \ ˈsi-lə-ˌkōn \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of silicone

: any of various polymeric organic silicon compounds obtained as oils, greases, or plastics and used especially for water-resistant and heat-resistant lubricants, varnishes, binders, and electric insulators

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Examples of silicone in a Sentence

a prosthesis made of silicone

Recent Examples of silicone from the Web

The most popular type of dermal filler is made of hyaluronic acid and approved by the FDA (silicone is not approved for filler use).

— kathleen hou, The Cut, "How Do You Remove Lip Fillers?," 9 July 2018
Permanent fillers such as silicone never go away and should be avoided.

— dr. leslie baumann, miamiherald, "Unhappy with the dermal fillers you got? Here's how to fix," 11 June 2018
The sealing ring—the flexible silicone ring that sits between the pot and the lid in order to keep steam from escaping, which is important for both cooking and safety—comes off the pot, and is dishwasher safe.

— jolie kerr, SELF, "How to Clean an Instant Pot, Spiralizer, and Other Tricky Kitchen Tools," 24 Apr. 2018
Reusable straws in materials like bamboo, silicone, glass, and metal are on the rise, and many are sold with a brush to clean them in-between uses.

— alice bell, Vogue, "11 Stylish, Sustainable Straws to Help You Cut Down on Single-Use Plastic," 13 July 2018
Its top is covered in a food-safe, high temperature silicone, with a thick glass strip at the edge.

— lauren goode, WIRED, "Brava Hopes to Heat Up the 'Smart Kitchen' With a $995 Oven," 10 July 2018
The pressure to avoid disposable straws has created a market for reusable straws made of materials like paper, silicone, stainless steel, glass and bamboo.

— christina caron, New York Times, "Starbucks to Stop Using Disposable Plastic Straws by 2020," 9 July 2018
Is your toy made of borosilicate glass, silicone, or a metal?

— lindsey lanquist, SELF, "How to Clean Your Sex Toys So You Can Use Them Safely," 15 Mar. 2018
Heat on medium-high heat, occasionally stirring with a silicone spatula for about 3 to 4 minutes.

— nik sharma, SFChronicle.com, "A Brown Kitchen: Mango layer cake for a fresh summer treat," 11 July 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of silicone

silicon + -one

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1943

in the meaning defined above

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Medical Dictionary

silicone

noun sil·i·cone \ ˈsil-ə-ˌkōn \

medical Definition of silicone

: any of various polymeric organic silicon compounds which are obtained as oils, greases, or plastics and some of which have been used as surgical implants