dentifrice
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of dentifrice
First recorded in 1450–1500; from Middle French, from Latin dentifricium “tooth powder, tooth paste,” equivalent to denti- denti- + fric(āre) “to rub” + -ium -ium
Explanation
Dentifrice is a fancy word for the stuff you put on your toothbrush to clean your teeth — in other words, dentifrice is toothpaste. In the 15th century, the equivalent word was dentifricie, and it meant "substance used for cleaning the teeth," from the Latin dentifricium, "powder for rubbing the teeth." The roots are dentis, "tooth," and fricare, "to rub," and that describes exactly how to use dentifrice. Your preferred form of dentifrice may be mint-flavored toothpaste, but many people use tooth powder instead, on a finger or a toothbrush.
Vocabulary lists containing dentifrice
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.
A dentifrice should provide only the necessary cleaning qualities to remove the sticky coating from the teeth without injuring the enamel.
From Time Magazine Archive
The girls marched past progressively tougher words, from heroine, blossom and dentifrice to operose, miscible and quadrumanous.
From Time Magazine Archive
The wary consumer may be convinced that some dread disease will steal upon him if he does not use a certain dentifrice.
From Time Magazine Archive
Four years ago, the American Den tal Association gave its seal of "recognition" to Procter & Gamble's fluoridated Crest toothpaste, and the $320 million dentifrice industry has not been the same since.
From Time Magazine Archive
It is a Standard measure, as may be seen in the way that journal is getting ahead of the Sun, which it keeps at arm's length.Molar.—Yes; burnt Cork is an excellent dentifrice.
From Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 18, July 30, 1870 by Various
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.
