Meaning & use
silicones
Last updated
“silicones” is a form of “silicone”.
Meaning
nounpluralchemistry
Plural of silicone: man-made materials containing silicon and oxygen, used as rubber, oil, sealant or lubricant.
Grammar: Countable plural for different types: many silicones are heat resistant.
Patterns
- silicones in something
- silicones for something
Many silicones stay flexible even at very low temperatures.
Silicones are used in baking molds, sealants and medical devices.
Some silicones are added to shampoos to make hair feel smooth.
Word forms
| singular | silicone |
|---|
Common combinations
- synthetic silicones
- Synthetic silicones are found in many kitchen tools.
- silicones in shampoo
- Some people avoid silicones in shampoo.
- heat-resistant silicones
- Heat-resistant silicones line the oven gloves.
- medical silicones
- Medical silicones are tested for safety.
Synonyms and how they differ
- silicone polymers
- This is the scientific name and stresses the chemical structure.
- silicone rubbers
- This is narrower and refers only to the rubbery types.
- sealants
- This is a use-based word and includes materials not made from silicone.
Word family
Commonly confused: silicones or silicon?
silicones vs silicon
Silicon is a natural element used in computer chips, while silicones are man-made materials that contain it.
Practice
Which of these is made of silicones?
Choose one answer.
Baking molds are often silicone. Computer chips are made from silicon, not silicones, and sand is mostly silica.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “silicones”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.