Definition of "rubber band" [rub•ber band]

• An elastic loop of natural or synthetic rubber used to hold objects together. Also called regionally gum band. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "She also took two or three hard claps on the side of the mask; the sword, called a shinai, was only sliced bamboo staves held together by twine for presence but not strength, but at that speed when it hit, it had to feel like someone had pronged a huge rubber band against her head."
• "The rubber band gives way to loose grands jetés and ass slapping."
• "The song had been in heavy rotation on TSF that fall, and hearing it once more left me no choice but to do my rubber band dance."