Carborundum

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Carborundum \Car`bo*run"dum\ (k[aum]r`b[-o]*r[u^]n"d[u^]m), [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.] carborundum cloth

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  carborundum
       n : an abrasive composed of silicon carbide crystals