titanium dioxide

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, water-insoluble powder, TiO 2 , used chiefly in white pigments, plastics, ceramics, and for delustering synthetic fibers.

---

titanium dioxide British  

noun

1. Also called: titanium oxide.   titanic oxide.   titania.  a white insoluble powder occurring naturally as rutile and used chiefly as a pigment of high covering power and durability. Formula: TiO 2

---

titanium dioxide Scientific  

1. A white powder used as an opaque white pigment. It occurs naturally as the mineral rutile. Chemical formula: TiO ₂ .

---

Etymology

Origin of titanium dioxide

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Slowing sales of titanium dioxide, a key component of white paint, drove light earnings.

From Barron's

The retail giant plans to nix ingredients including titanium dioxide, a food coloring, and azodicarbonamide, used to help bread rise consistently.

From The Wall Street Journal

For decades, Iluka has been mining zircon in Australia - a key ingredient in ceramics, and titanium dioxide used in the pigmentation of paint, plastics and paper.

From BBC

The candymaker announced in late May that it would no longer use titanium dioxide, a potentially carcinogenic additive that was banned in the European Union in 2022, to make Skittles in the U.S.

From Salon

Skittles in the US are no longer being made with titanium dioxide, a colour additive that was banned in the European Union in 2022 over possible health risks.

From BBC