pumice

American  

[puhm-is] / ˈpʌm ɪs /

noun

1. Also called pumice stone.  a porous or spongy form of volcanic glass, used as an abrasive.

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verb (used with object)

pumiced, pumicing

1. to rub, smooth, clean, etc., with pumice.

pumice British  

/ ˈpʌmɪs, pjuːˈmɪʃəs /

noun

1. Also called: pumice stone.  a light porous acid volcanic rock having the composition of rhyolite, used for scouring and, in powdered form, as an abrasive and for polishing

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verb

1. (tr) to rub or polish with pumice

pumice Scientific  

/ pŭm′ĭs /

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• pumiceous adjective
• pumicer noun

Etymology

Origin of pumice

First recorded before 1000; from Latin pūmic-, stem of pūmex “pumice stone”; replacing Middle English pomis(e), pomish(e), pomice, from Middle French pomis, from Latin; compare Old English pumic- (from Latin ), in pumicstān “pumice stone”; pounce ³

Compare meaning

How does pumice compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• scoria vs. pumice

Example Sentences

The pumice samples contained almost no platinum, with levels at or below detection limits.

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2026

He died at Stabiae, a few miles south of Pompeii, gazing over a sea rendered unnavigable by pumice and strong opposing winds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

The Paiute-Shoshone Indians later chipped away at the red pumice stone, which exposed the lighter rock minerals underneath, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2025

A wide residential and commercial block, known as "Region 9", is being cleared of several metres of overlying pumice and ash thrown out by Vesuvius almost 2,000 years ago.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2024

The girls were taking turns with the pumice stone, scraping it along the ends of sticks to make spears.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray