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diatomaceous earth
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noun
a fine siliceous earth composed chiefly of the cell walls of diatoms: used in filtration, as an abrasive, etc.
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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Origin of diatomaceous earth
First recorded in 1880–85
Words nearby diatomaceous earth
diathermic, diathermy, diathesis, diatom, diatomaceous, diatomaceous earth, diatomic, diatomite, diatonic, diatonicism, diatreme
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use diatomaceous earth in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for diatomaceous earth
diatomaceous earth
noun
an unconsolidated form of diatomiteAlso called: kieselguhr
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for diatomaceous earth
diatomaceous earth
[ dī′ə-tə-mā′shəs, dī-ăt′ə- ]
n.
A powder made of the desiccated shells of diatoms, used as a filtering agent, adsorbent, and abrasive in many chemical operations.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.