talcum powder

noun

tal·​cum powder ˈtal-kəm- How to pronounce talcum powder (audio)
1
: powdered talc
2
: a toilet powder composed of perfumed talc or talc and a mild antiseptic

Examples of talcum powder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Owyhee gumbo is an extremely sticky goo that results when rain hits the talcum powder dirt. Pete Zimowsky, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024 Preliminary test results on the white powder in the first envelope opened have come back as being talcum powder, the source said, The authorities have to test every envelope with care and while following procedure, which will take time. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2023 Baking soda or talcum powder will also absorb sweat and help counter smell. John Thompson, Men's Health, 26 June 2023 For instance, try placing some baking soda or talcum powder inside your closed-toed shoes to absorb any extra moisture and help manage odor. Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2023 In the olden days, people applied perfume and talcum powder to try to cover up the smell of BO. WIRED, 30 Sep. 2023 Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Trial lawyers are besieging Johnson & Johnson with claims that its talcum powder is responsible for a variety of medical problems. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 15 Oct. 2023 At 60, women were expected to resign themselves to getting nothing but talcum powder and soap sets for their birthdays and watching everyone else have all the fun. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 22 Sep. 2023 Set bed bug interceptor traps by taping or gluing two plastic containers together (one large one and one small to fit inside of it) and sprinkling talcum powder at the bottom of the containers. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'talcum powder.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin talcum talc

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of talcum powder was circa 1890

Dictionary Entries Near talcum powder

Cite this Entry

“Talcum powder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/talcum%20powder. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

talcum powder

noun
tal·​cum powder ˈtal-kəm- How to pronounce talcum powder (audio)
: a powder composed of perfumed talc or talc and a mild antiseptic for sprinkling or rubbing over the skin

Medical Definition

talcum powder

noun
1
: powdered talc
2
: a toilet powder composed of perfumed talc or talc and some mild antiseptic

More from Merriam-Webster on talcum powder

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