milk of magnesia

American  

noun

1. a milky white suspension in water of magnesium hydroxide, Mg (OH) 2 , used as an antacid or laxative.

---

milk of magnesia British  

noun

1. a suspension of magnesium hydroxide in water, used as an antacid and laxative

---

Etymology

Origin of milk of magnesia

First recorded in 1875–80; formerly trademark

Example Sentences

Do you have any details about how to use milk of magnesia?

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2022

I do use amber Listerine and also milk of magnesia.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2021

She and some of her classmates started bringing along basic first-aid supplies, like bandages, gauze, and mixtures of milk of magnesia and water to counteract tear gas.

From New York Times • Jun. 9, 2020

But then some people we’d never met saw us and said, we have some milk of magnesia.

From Washington Post • Jun. 2, 2020

You can get absolutely anything you need in the stores: Breck Special Formulated Shampoo, Phillips’ milk of magnesia, Campbell’s tomato soup, honestly you name it!

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver