microbead

[ mahy-kroh-beed ]

noun

1. Usually microbeads. a tiny particle of plastic, usually smaller than two millimeters, used in such personal care products as body washes, facial scrubs, and toothpastes:

   The microbeads help to exfoliate your skin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of microbead¹

First recorded in 1965–70; micro- ( def ) + bead ( def )

Example Sentences

In this technique, small microbead particles are delivered through a catheter into an artery that is supplying oxygen and nutrient-containing blood to a tumor.

From Science Daily

Within products themselves, the Plastic Soup Foundation’s Beat the Microbead app can scan products for microplastics.

From National Geographic

This divisive object, in all its plush, polystyrene microbead wonder, epitomizes the existential suffering of economy air travel.

From Washington Post

The bestseller is the Clöudz Dual Comfort Microbead Travel Neck Pillow — “Dual comfort! Use it as lumbar support!” — available in more than 30 fashion iterations, including camouflage and unicorn.

From Washington Post

DNA sequencing of this material on the slide allowed the authors to determine the position and sequence of the barcodes corresponding to each microbead.

From Nature