borax

¹

[bawr-aks, -uhks, bohr-]

noun

plural

boraxes, boraces 

1. a white, water-soluble powder or crystals, hydrated sodium borate, Na 2 B 4 O 7 ⋅10H 2 O, occurring naturally or obtained from naturally occurring borates; tincal: used as a flux, cleansing agent, in the manufacture of glass, porcelain, and enamel, and in tanning.

borax

²

[bawr-aks, -uhks, bohr-]

noun

1. cheap, showy, poorly made merchandise, especially cheaply built furniture of an undistinguished or heterogeneous style.

borax

/ ˈbɔːræks /

noun

1. Also called: tincal. a soluble readily fusible white mineral consisting of impure hydrated disodium tetraborate in monoclinic crystalline form, occurring in alkaline soils and salt deposits. Formula: Na 2 B 4 O 7 .10H 2 O

2. pure disodium tetraborate

borax

1. A white, crystalline powder and mineral used as an antiseptic, as a cleansing agent, and in fusing metals and making heat-resistant glass. The mineral is an ore of boron and also occurs in yellowish, blue, or green varieties. Chemical formula: Na ₂ B ₄ O ₇ ·10H ₂ O.

Word History and Origins

Origin of borax¹

1350–1400; < Medieval Latin ≪ dialectal Arabic būraq < Middle Persian būrag; replacing Middle English boras < Middle French < Medieval Latin borax

Origin of borax²

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of borax¹

C14: from Old French boras , from Medieval Latin borax , from Arabic būraq , from Persian būrah

Example Sentences

Not every trend on TikTok is as horrific or annoying as drinking borax or pranking strangers — some memes are downright heartwarming.

From Salon

The fire, one of two that day, occurred just after midnight April 4 behind the Borax Museum and destroyed a wooden wagon used to transport borax out of Death Valley in the late 1800s.

From Los Angeles Times

You can create a natural cleaning solution from baking soda, lemon juice and borax.

From Seattle Times

Using borax, water, and pipe cleaners, we made our own crystals.

From Literature

Combine two tablespoons of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of borax powder.

From National Geographic Kids