borax

1
[ bawr-aks, -uh ks, bohr- ]
/ ˈbɔr æks, -əks, ˈboʊr- /

noun, plural bo·rax·es, bo·ra·ces [bawr-uh-seez, bohr-] /ˈbɔr əˌsiz, ˈboʊr-/.

a white, water-soluble powder or crystals, hydrated sodium borate, Na2B4O7⋅10H2O, 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.
Also called sodium borate, sodium pyroborate, sodium tetraborate.

Origin of borax

1
1350–1400; < Medieval Latin ≪ dialectal Arabic būraq < Middle Persian būrag; replacing Middle English boras < Middle French < Medieval Latin borax

Words nearby borax

borak, boral, borane, borasca, borate, borax, borax bead, borax pentahydrate, borazine, borazon, borborygmus

Definition for borax (2 of 2)

borax 2
[ bawr-aks, -uh ks, bohr- ]
/ ˈbɔr æks, -əks, ˈboʊr- /

noun

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

Origin of borax

2
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; of uncertain origin

Example sentences from the Web for borax

British Dictionary definitions for borax

borax
/ (ˈbɔːræks) /

noun plural -raxes or -races (-rəˌsiːz)

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
pure disodium tetraborate

Word Origin for borax

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

Medical definitions for borax

borax
[ bôr′ăks′, -əks ]

n.

Sodium borate.

Scientific definitions for borax

borax
[ bôr′ăks′ ]

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: Na2B4O7·10H2O.