calamine
Americannoun
-
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.
noun
-
a pink powder consisting of zinc oxide and ferric oxide, (iron(III) oxide), used medicinally in the form of soothing lotions or ointments
-
another name for smithsonite hemimorphite
Etymology
Origin of calamine
1595–1605; < Medieval Latin calamīna, unexplained alteration of Latin cadmia cadmium; see -ine 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
How to treat it: As with poison oak rash, use a cold compress, apply calamine lotion or bathe in baking soda or colloidal oatmeal to relive itching symptoms.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2023
For topical relief, the American Dermatological Association recommends calamine lotion, which has cooling properties.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 24, 2023
You will wish you had a medical degree on those nights when a rash shows up and you have no idea whether you should rush to the emergency room or pull out the calamine lotion.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 5, 2019
Thankfully, it can be treated with common rash remedies, such as calamine lotion.
From Fox News ● Nov. 1, 2018
She told Bailey to watch my face and arms for spots and when they came up he could paint them with calamine lotion.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
![]()
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.