teflon
/ˈtɛflɒn/ noun, adjective, proper noun
Forms Teflons
- noun Synonym of polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE.
- adjective (figuratively) Non-stick, slick.
- adjective (figuratively, of a person) Able to easily shrug off or deflect criticism or blame. “the teflon Prime Minister”
- proper noun A brand name of polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”) products, latterly applied to other fluoropolymer products.
- noun Multiple film, resin, coatings, fabric and surface protectors made with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or fluoropolymer and surfactants not made with PTFE.
- noun Synonym of polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”).
- adjective (informal, of a person) Having an undamageable reputation (by analogy with nonstick Teflon surfaces). “a Teflon image”
Synonyms
Etymology
Genericization of trademark Teflon.
Trade name, 1940s. From the first letters of tetra- (“four”) + fluoro- (“fluorine”) + -on modeled after nylon etc. From the fluorine count of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “teflon”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details