microbead

[ mahy-kroh-beed ]

noun

1. Usually microbeads. a tiny particle of plastic, usually smaller than two millimeters, used in such personal care products as body washes, facial scrubs, and toothpastes:

   The microbeads help to exfoliate your skin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of microbead¹

First recorded in 1965–70; micro- ( def ) + bead ( def )

Example Sentences

The positively charged microbeads had released up to 65 percent of their triclosan.

From Science News For Students

The environmental scientists worked with microbeads made of polystyrene, a type of plastic.

From Science News For Students

Chemical options are generally too harsh for daily use, and a growing awareness of the pollution problem posed by plastic microbeads has cancelled an entire sub-genre of products.

From Popular-Science

I didn’t have to worry about harming any critters in the sea, because unlike microbeads, volcanic rock isn’t toxic to marine life.

From Outside Online