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pumice

 - 6 dictionary results

pum⋅ice

  [puhm-is] noun, verb, -iced, -ic⋅ing.
Use pumice in a Sentence
–noun
1. Also called pumice stone. a porous or spongy form of volcanic glass, used as an abrasive.
–verb (used with object)
2. to rub, smooth, clean, etc., with pumice.
Origin:
bef. 1000; < L pūmic-, s. of pūmex pumice stone; r. ME pomis(e), pomish(e), pomice < MF pomis < L; cf. OE pumic- (< L), in pumicstān pumice stone; see pounce 3

Related forms:
pu⋅mi⋅ceous  [pyoo-mish-uhs] , adjective
pum⋅ic⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To pumice
pum·ice   (pŭm'ĭs)   
n.  A light, porous, glassy lava, used in solid form as an abrasive and in powdered form as a polish and an abrasive.
tr.v.   pum·iced, pum·ic·ing, pum·ic·es
To clean, polish, or smooth with pumice.

[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman pomis, from Late Latin pōmex, from Latin pūmex, alteration of spūma, foam.]
pu·mi'ceous (pyōō-mĭsh'əs, pə-) adj., pum'ic·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

pumice 
c.1400, from O.Fr. pomis (c.1250), from L.L. pomex (acc. pomicem, gen. pumicis), from Oscan *poimex, a variant of L. pumex "pumice," from PIE *poimo-, with connotations of "foam, froth." O.E. had pumic-stan.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pum·ice
Pronunciation: 'p&m-&s
Function: noun
: a volcanic glass full of cavities and very light in weight used especially inpowder form for smoothing and polishing
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

pumice pum·ice (pŭm'ĭs)
n.
A light, porous, glassy lava, used as an abrasive.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
pumice   (pŭm'ĭs)  Pronunciation Key 
A usually light-colored, porous, lightweight rock of volcanic origin. The pores form when water vapor and gases escape from the lava during its quick solidification into rock.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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