Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

linoleum

/lɪˈnoʊli.əm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.61 in modern English

Syllables: linoleum
IPA: /lɪˈnoʊli.əm/

10

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An inexpensive waterproof covering used especially for floors, made from solidified linseed oil over a burlap or canvas backing, or from its modern replacement, polyvinyl chloride.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The house seemed unfamiliar in the dark stormy light; the red and purple glass of the front door made livid bruises on the linoleum; the green chenille curtain was like a veil of seaweed."

Etymology

From Latin līnum (“flax”) + oleum (“oil”). Coined by English manufacturer and inventor Frederick Walton c. 1864 and used as a trade name but never registered as a trademark. It was the first product whose name was ruled to be genericized.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: -

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /lɪˈnoʊli.əm/
British English: /lɪˈnəʊli.əm/

Usage

Inflected Forms

linoleums (plural)

Derived Forms

lino linoleumed

Phrases

linoleum knife

Frequently Paired Words

oilcloth

Synonyms

lino

Rhymes With

petroleum

Questions

How do you pronounce linoleum?: The recorded pronunciation is /lɪˈnoʊli.əm/.
What does linoleum mean?: An inexpensive waterproof covering used especially for floors, made from solidified linseed oil over a burlap or canvas backing, or from its modern replacement, polyvinyl chloride.
Where does linoleum come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce linoleum

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “linoleum”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/lɪˈnoʊli.əm/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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