calamine

[ kal-uh-mahyn, -min ]
/ ˈkæl əˌmaɪn, -mɪn /

noun

a pink, water-insoluble powder consisting of zinc oxide and about 0.5 percent ferric oxide, used in ointments, lotions, or the like, for the treatment of inflammatory conditions of the skin.
Mineralogy. hemimorphite.
Chiefly British. smithsonite.

Origin of calamine

1595–1605; < Medieval Latin calamīna, unexplained alteration of Latin cadmia cadmium; see -ine1

Words nearby calamine

calamander, calamari, calamary, calamata olive, calamian islands, calamine, calamine brass, calamint, calamite, calamitous, calamity

Example sentences from the Web for calamine

British Dictionary definitions for calamine

calamine
/ (ˈkæləˌmaɪn) /

noun

a pink powder consisting of zinc oxide and ferric oxide, (iron(III) oxide), used medicinally in the form of soothing lotions or ointments
US another name for smithsonite, hemimorphite

Word Origin for calamine

C17: from Old French, from Medieval Latin calamīna, from Latin cadmīa; see cadmium

Medical definitions for calamine

calamine
[ kăl′ə-mīn′, -mĭn ]

n.

A pink, odorless, tasteless powder of zinc oxide with a small amount of ferric oxide, dissolved in mineral oils and used in skin lotions.