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Definition of linoleum

linoleum

/lɪˈnoʊliəm/
li · no · le · um
Plural:linoleums
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linoleum Lexical Profile

linoleum Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A durable, washable floor covering made by coating a canvas or burlap backing with a heated mixture of linseed oil, powdered cork, and rosin.

Example

"The kitchen in the old farmhouse still had its original black and white checkered linoleum."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for linoleum

Word Nuance & Usage

Often confused with vinyl flooring, though true linoleum is distinguished by being made from natural materials like oxidized linseed oil and cork dust rather than synthetic plastics.

• Rhymes for linoleum

• Nearby Words

lino
linocut
linocutting
linoleum
linsang
linseed
lint

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1864 by its English inventor, Frederick Walton, from the Latin words 'linum' (flax) and 'oleum' (oil), referring to the linseed oil that forms its base.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Linoleum. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/linoleum
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