ポリスチレン
解説 Definition
polystyrene は「ポリスチレン」という合成樹脂を指す語です。日本語のカタカナ語とほぼ同じ意味ですが、英語では発泡材だけでなく硬いプラスチック素材も含みます。
Polystyrene is a synthetic polymer made from styrene. It can be manufactured as a rigid plastic or as a lightweight foam and is commonly used in packaging, insulation, disposable containers, and other products.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
poly-「多数の」＋ styrene「スチレン」と分ければ、スチレンが多数結合した polymer（重合体）だと理解できます。英語の polystyrene は発泡スチロールだけでなく、硬い透明容器などの非発泡素材も含みます。made of polystyrene、polystyrene packaging の組み合わせで、製品ではなく材質名として覚えましょう。
Divide polystyrene into poly-, meaning “many,” and styrene, the monomer from which the material is made. This gives a chemically useful memory: polystyrene is a polymer containing many linked styrene units. Do not restrict the English word to white packaging foam. It also covers rigid forms used for clear containers and other plastic objects. Learn it as a material noun through phrases such as made of polystyrene, polystyrene packaging, and an alternative to polystyrene. The object may vary, but the word consistently names the synthetic material.
例文
The cup is made of polystyrene.
そのカップはポリスチレンでできています。
Polystyrene is used in packaging and food containers.
ポリスチレンは包装材や食品容器に使われます。
The company is looking for a recyclable alternative to polystyrene.
その会社はポリスチレンの代わりになるリサイクル可能な素材を探しています。
polystyrene の類義語・関連語
紛らわしい語
polystyrene の語源・成り立ち Etymology
polystyrene は poly-「多くの」（ギリシャ語 polys）+ styrene から成る化学語です。styrene は樹脂を出す木 Styrax の名に由来し、-ene は化学名で使う接尾辞なので、「スチレンがたくさん連なったもの」という語形どおりの意味です。関連語は styrene、polymer。
Polystyrene is formed from poly-, from Greek polys, meaning “many,” and styrene, the name of its monomer. Styrene was named through terms associated with storax, a resin obtained from trees of the genus Styrax; -ene is a suffix used in chemical names. The modern word therefore describes a polymer made of many repeating styrene units. Its name refers to chemical composition, not specifically to whether the resulting material is rigid or foamed.
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