borax

1 of 2

noun (1)

bo·​rax ˈbȯr-ˌaks How to pronounce borax (audio) -əks How to pronounce borax (audio)
: a white crystalline compound that consists of a hydrated sodium borate Na2B4O7·10H2O, that occurs as a mineral or is prepared from other minerals, and that is used especially as a flux, cleansing agent, and water softener, as a preservative, and as a fireproofing agent

borax

2 of 2

noun (2)

: cheap shoddy merchandise

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What are the Uses of borax?

A borate of sodium that occurs as a soft, light, colorless crystalline mineral, borax has a wide variety of uses. It can be used as a component of glass and pottery glazes in the ceramics industry, as a solvent in metallurgy, as a flux in welding and soldering, and as a fertilizer additive, a soap supplement, a disinfectant, a mouthwash, and a water softener. About 50 percent of the world’s supply comes from southern Californian deserts, including Death Valley.

Examples of borax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Two vital ingredients in making slime are glue and borax, according to PBS. Paloma Chavez, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2024 And, importantly, borax is not the same as elemental boron. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 24 July 2023 Use the remaining borax mold cleaner to mop tile or vinyl floors. Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023 But the studies tested borax in groups of just eight and seven rats, respectively, and even larger studies do not support the use of borax in humans. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 24 July 2023 Soil Conditions Another method for healthy pumpkins is adding borax for calcium in the soil, infusing their fruit's greenhouses with carbon dioxide to jump-start growth and using different soil concoctions infused with mycorrhizal fertilizer. Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2023 Preservation with borax and arsenic affected the intensity of fluorescence, increasing it in certain cases while dampening it in others. Cara Giaimo, New York Times, 20 Oct. 2023 And what does ingesting borax to do the human body? Julia Landwehr, Health, 3 Aug. 2023 To clean mold from bathroom tile grout, use the same borax or vinegar solution as before. Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'borax.' 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

Noun (1)

Middle English boras, from Anglo-French boreis, from Medieval Latin borac-, borax, from Arabic būraq, from Persian būrah

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of borax was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near borax

Cite this Entry

“Borax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/borax. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

borax

noun
bo·​rax
ˈbō(ə)r-ˌaks,
ˈbȯ(ə)r-
: a borate of sodium that occurs as a mineral and is used in agricultural chemicals, as a cleansing agent, and as a water softener

Medical Definition

borax

noun
: a white crystalline compound that consists of a hydrated sodium borate Na2B4O7·10H2O, that occurs as a mineral or is prepared from other minerals, and that is used especially as a flux, cleansing agent, and water softener and as a preservative

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