noun
styrofoam
STEYE-ruh-fohm
noun
1
A lightweight rigid foam plastic used for insulation, packaging, and disposable cups.
"The coffee came in a Styrofoam cup."
"They packed the fragile vase in Styrofoam for shipping."
How to Use Styrofoam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe white foam material used in cups, coolers, and packaging.
Common mistake
Technically a trademark, but almost universally used as a generic term for expanded polystyrene foam.
Common pairings
Styrofoam cup
Styrofoam packaging
Word Forms
styrofoams plural
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Etymology
Originally a trademarked brand name for expanded polystyrene foam, now used generically for the material.