corrugate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “corrugate” mean?
To form or shape into parallel ridges and grooves.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To form or shape into parallel ridges and grooves.
To wrinkle or contract into folds; to make something, especially a surface, wavy or ridged.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are standard.
Connotations
Technical/industrial in both varieties. The adjective 'corrugated' is more common than the verb.
Frequency
Low-frequency verb in both dialects, almost exclusively encountered in technical, manufacturing, or materials science contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “corrugate” in a Sentence
[VERB] + [OBJECT] (The machine corrugates the metal.)[BE] + corrugated + [PREP] (The roof was corrugated for drainage.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corrugate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The specialist machine will corrugate the aluminium sheeting for the roofing.
- They needed to corrugate the plastic to improve its stiffness.
American English
- The factory corrugates steel to make durable siding for barns.
- This process is designed to corrugate the material without weakening it.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form in use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form in use]
adjective
British English
- We found some old corrugated iron in the shed.
- Pack it securely in a corrugated cardboard box.
American English
- The warehouse had a classic corrugated metal roof.
- Always use corrugated cardboard for shipping fragile items.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a type of material, e.g., 'We ship the product in corrugated boxes for protection.'
Academic
Used in engineering and materials science to describe a structural technique that increases strength and rigidity.
Everyday
Rarely used. A person might refer to 'corrugated cardboard' when moving house.
Technical
The precise verb for the manufacturing process of forming parallel ridges, e.g., 'The rollers corrugate the steel.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corrugate”
- Using 'corrugate' intransitively (e.g., 'The paper corrugates' is rare; better: 'The paper becomes corrugated').
- Confusing 'corrugated' with 'creased' or 'crumpled', which imply less regular folding.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the verb 'corrugate' is a low-frequency, technical word. The adjective 'corrugated' (as in 'corrugated cardboard') is far more commonly encountered in everyday language.
It is very unusual and would sound excessively technical. Words like 'wrinkle', 'furrow', or 'crease' are the natural choices for describing skin (e.g., 'He furrowed his brow').
They are very similar. 'Corrugated' almost always refers to a regular series of parallel ridges and grooves, often on sheet material. 'Ribbed' can describe parallel ridges (e.g., ribbed fabric) but is also used for structural ribs in architecture or anatomy, which may not be as fine or regular as corrugations.
Yes, the noun is 'corrugation', referring to a single ridge or groove, or the state of being corrugated (e.g., 'The deep corrugations in the metal').
To form or shape into parallel ridges and grooves.
Corrugate is usually formal, technical in register.
Corrugate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒr.ə.ɡeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːr.ə.ɡeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated with the verb 'corrugate']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CORRUGATED iron' – it has parallel CORRUGAtions (ridges) like a RUgged GAte.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS A RIDGED SURFACE (e.g., corrugated materials are stronger than flat ones).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of corrugating a material like metal or cardboard?