formica
フォーミカ
解説 Definition
耐熱性のある合成樹脂で作られた化粧板の商標名。カウンターなどに使われる。
Formica is a trademark for a durable laminated surfacing material made with synthetic resins. It is commonly used on kitchen counters, tabletops, and similar surfaces because it resists wear and heat and is relatively easy to clean.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
Formica は通常大文字で書く化粧板の商標名です。ブランド名は for mica、つまり電気絶縁材の mica「雲母」の代用品として開発された経緯に結び付けると確実です。Formica countertop、surface、laminate という組み合わせから、耐久性があり手入れしやすいカウンター材を思い浮かべます。
Remember Formica through the phrase for mica. The material was originally developed to perform an insulating role for which sheets of mica had been used, and the phrase became the brand name Formica. In modern settings, however, think of a smooth decorative laminate rather than loose insulation: typical combinations include Formica countertop, Formica tabletop, and Formica surface. The capital letter signals the trademark, although informal usage sometimes treats the name more generally. Linking the historical replacement of mica with the familiar sight of an easy-to-clean diner table gives the word both a structural and a practical memory cue.
例文
The kitchen countertops were covered with durable Formica laminate.
キッチンのカウンターは耐久性のあるフォーミカの化粧板で覆われていた。
Formica was a popular material for tabletops in diners during the 1950s.
フォーミカは1950年代のダイナーのテーブルトップに人気のある素材だった。
She chose a Formica surface because it is heat-resistant and easy to clean.
彼女は耐熱性があり掃除が簡単なので、フォーミカの表面を選んだ。
formica の類義語・関連語
類義語
紛らわしい語
formica の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ラテン語 formica（蟻）に由来するが、ブランド名としては「for mica（雲母の代わりに）」という意味で命名された。元々は雲母の代替となる電気絶縁材として開発され、後に化粧板の代名詞となった。関連語：formicary（蟻塚）、mica（雲母）。
Formica was created as a commercial name for an electrical insulating material intended to replace mica, and its name is conventionally explained as for mica. The spelling also coincides with Latin formica, meaning “ant,” but that Latin word was not the practical idea behind the product name. After its early use in insulation, the material and brand became especially associated with resin-based decorative laminates for counters, tables, cabinets, and other hard surfaces.
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