Meanings
carborundum1
- uncountableCrystals of silicon carbide used as an abrasive.
This can most readily be done by use of carborundum marking. The procedure involves successive marking of the same mat with layers of carborundum at least twice.
1976, M.R. Walter, Stromatolites, Elsevier, →ISBN, page 283 more examples
There is no doubt that such a button — properly prepared under great pressure — of carborundum, especially of powder of the best quality, will withstand the effect of the bombardment fully as well as anything we know.
1892, Nikola Tesla, Experiments with Alternate Currents of High Potential and High Frequency, Wildside Press LLC, →ISBN, page 73At the same times, samples were taken to determine that the carborundum treatment did increase the amount of wear of the mandibles compared with insects on the diet without carborundum powder.
1995, Reg F. Chapman, Gerrit de Boer, Regulatory Mechanisms in Insect Feeding, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 22Print made by combining carborundum—a carbon and silicon compound customarily used for polishing by abrasion—with synthetic resin or varnish (see also Prints, §III, 5).
2008, Gerald W. R. Ward, The Grove Encyclopedia of Materials and Techniques in Art, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 83
Carborundum2
- uncountableAlternative letter-case form of carborundum.
Origin
Blend of carbon + corundum; originally a trade name.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
German Carborundum, Karborund
- Carborundumcrystals of silicon carbide used as an abrasive
- Karborundcrystals of silicon carbide used as an abrasive
Italian carborundum
- carborundumcrystals of silicon carbide used as an abrasive
Russian карбору́нд
- карбору́нд (karborúnd)crystals of silicon carbide used as an abrasive
Turkish Karburundum
- Karburundumcrystals of silicon carbide used as an abrasive
Ukrainian карбору́нд
- карбору́нд (karborúnd)crystals of silicon carbide used as an abrasive
Cite this entry
carborundum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carborundum
“carborundum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carborundum. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “carborundum,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/carborundum.
Source: carborundum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.