diatomaceous earth

American  

noun

1. a fine siliceous earth composed chiefly of the cell walls of diatoms: used in filtration, as an abrasive, etc.

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diatomaceous earth British  

noun

1. Also called: kieselguhr.  an unconsolidated form of diatomite

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Etymology

Origin of diatomaceous earth

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

diatomaceous earth

It suggests diatomaceous earth and commercial rust remover, blended to the consistency of peanut butter.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 29, 2022

She touted Palos Verdes Peninsula’s South Coast Botanic Garden, a former diatomaceous earth mine and landfill that was remodeled into a garden in 1961, as an example.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2022

Fones Cliffs, an unusual outcropping of white diatomaceous earth, is on the east side of the river in Richmond County on the Northern Neck of Virginia.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 1, 2022

Another option is to plant pest-resistant varieties or make plants unpalatable for hungry insects with natural products such as diatomaceous earth, a talc-like powder made of the ground-up diatomic fossils.

From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2021

We made up a song about diatomaceous earth while we were driving in to the post office today, just because we thought it sounded funny.

From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones