Engineering English
ABS
Materials Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a tough, impact-resistant thermoplastic copolymer. It is widely used in automotive, consumer electronics, and piping applications.
Example in context
“The instrument panel was molded from ABS to withstand impact and provide a good surface finish.”
“Enstrüman paneli, darbeye dayanıklı olması ve iyi bir yüzey kalitesi sağlaması için ABS'den kalıplandı.”
Where engineers use it
ABS is selected in injection molding for parts needing impact strength and gloss. Engineers evaluate its melt flow and shrinkage when designing consumer product housings.
Synonyms: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, ABS plastic
Antonyms: thermosetting plastic
Practice: can you use “ABS” at work?
You are a product engineer for a power tool company. Choose a material for a drill housing that must survive drops. Explain why ABS is or is not suitable.
Show a model answer
“Select ABS for applications requiring high impact resistance and good surface appearance.”
“ABS” in 21 languages
| English | ABS |
|---|---|
| Turkish | ABS (akrilonitril bütadien stiren) |
| French | ABS (acrylonitrile butadiène styrène) |
| German | ABS (Acrylnitril-Butadien-Styrol) |
| Spanish | ABS (acrilonitrilo butadieno estireno) |
| Chinese | ABS塑料 |
| Arabic | إيه بي إس (أكريلونيتريل بوتادين ستايرين) |
| Portuguese | ABS (acrilonitrila butadieno estireno) |
| Russian | АБС-пластик (акрилонитрил-бутадиен-стирол) |
| Japanese | ABS樹脂 |
| Italian | ABS (acrilonitrile butadiene stirene) |
| Vietnamese | nhựa ABS |
| Hindi | ABS (एक्रिलोनिट्राइल ब्यूटाडाइन स्टाइरीन) |
| Thai | พลาสติก ABS |
| Indonesian | ABS (akrilonitril butadiena stirena) |
| Korean | ABS (아크릴로니트릴 부타디엔 스티렌) |
| Bengali | ABS (অ্যাক্রিলোনাইট্রাইল বিউটাডায়িন স্টাইরিন) |
| Dutch | ABS (acrylonitril butadieen styreen) |
| Swedish | ABS (akrylnitril-butadien-styren) |
| Finnish | ABS (akryylinitriili-butadieeni-styreeni) |
| Ukrainian | АБС (акрилонітрил-бутадієн-стирол) |
Frequently asked questions
What does ABS mean in engineering?
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a tough, impact-resistant thermoplastic copolymer. It is widely used in automotive, consumer electronics, and piping applications. In Materials Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce ABS?
ABS is pronounced /ˌeɪ.biːˈɛs/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is ABS used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The instrument panel was molded from ABS to withstand impact and provide a good surface finish.”
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