eraser
ih-RAY-ser
/ɪˈreɪsər/
A piece of rubber or other material used to remove marks made by pencil, pen, or chalk.
Specifically for removing marks, often leaving residue. Different types exist for different writing instruments.
The story behind the word. The word 'eraser' comes from the Latin verb 'eradere,' meaning 'to scrape out' or 'to scratch out.' This perfectly describes the action of removing marks. Early 'erasers' were often pieces of rough stone or bread! The modern rubber eraser was 'discovered' in the 18th century, and the tool that performs the act of 'erasing' became known as an 'eraser.'
Word relationships
- rubber: Commonly used in British English for a pencil eraser.
- cleaner: A broader term; an eraser is a specific type of cleaner for marks.
Commonly confused with
- sharpener: A sharpener makes pencils sharper; an eraser removes pencil marks.
Word family
- erase (verb): to rub out or remove written or drawn marks
Collocations
- pencil eraser
- whiteboard eraser
- rubber eraser
- erase with an eraser
Example sentences
- "He quickly grabbed his pink eraser to correct the spelling error in his essay." A student makes a mistake while writing.
- "The teacher kept a large whiteboard eraser handy to clean the board after each lesson." Describing a common classroom item.
Memory hook
An 'eraser' helps you 'erase' your mistakes. Erase mistakes
When not to use
Don't call a cleaning cloth an 'eraser' unless it's specifically for dry-erase boards.
Fun facts
- Before rubber erasers, people used stale bread crumbs to erase pencil marks.
- The English chemist Joseph Priestley is credited with discovering in 1770 that India rubber could rub out pencil marks.
- Some erasers are designed to be 'dust-free,' minimizing the mess left behind.
Related words
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