Word Study
carborundum
CIDE DICTIONARY
carborundum, [a trade name, from Carbon + corundum.].
A beautiful crystalline compound, silicon carbide (SiC ), consisting of carbon and silicon in combination; -- also called carbon silicide . It is made by heating carbon and sand together in an electric furnace. The commercial article is dark-colored and iridescent. It is harder than emery, and is used as an abrasive. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
carborundum, n. a compound of carbon and silicon used esp. as an abrasive.
Etymology
CARBON + CORUNDUM
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