pomade
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
Etymology
Origin of pomade
1555–65; earlier pommade < French < Italian pomata (so called because apples were originally an ingredient), equivalent to pom ( a ) apple (< Latin, plural (taken in VL as feminine singular) of pōmum fruit) + -ata -ade 1. See pomatum
Explanation
Pomade is a greasy kind of styling product for your hair. Are your curls a mess? You might want to apply some pomade to tidy them up. Now mostly thought of as old-fashioned, pomade is still around and used by those who want a slicked-back or wet-look hairdo. Unlike modern hair products such as spray, gel, and mousse, pomade doesn't dry. You can even keep pomade in your hair through several washings, because it's so waxy. The word itself comes from the Italian word for "apple," pomo, thanks to the inclusion of mashed apples in the original pomade recipe.
Vocabulary lists containing pomade
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Color Purple
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves" by Karen Russell
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Stan had his hair dyed, chemically straightened and slicked with pomade to achieve the drummer’s sweaty, dirty locks.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 2, 2022
Because bathing kiwis in a dressing tames their fuzz, just like pomade smooths frizzed hair on a humid day.
From Salon • Jul. 17, 2021
That prison soap must be suffused with argan oil – either that or Robbins’ scalp secretes pomade, given his lustrous locks are more solid than those securing the cell doors.
From The Guardian • Apr. 8, 2020
He’d showered and powdered his neck — the smell of talc and the pomade he sometimes used to brush his hair sweetening the old leather of the seats.
From New York Times • Sep. 17, 2019
His chiseled face is impassive, his dark hair shiny with pomade.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Definitions 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.
