borax

1 of 2

noun (1)

bo·​rax ˈbȯr-ˌaks  -əks 

: a white crystalline compound that consists of a hydrated sodium borate Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O, that occurs as a mineral or is prepared from other minerals, and that is used especially as a flux, cleansing agent, and water softener, as a preservative, and as a fireproofing agent

borax

2 of 2

noun (2)

: cheap shoddy merchandise

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What are the Uses of borax?

A borate of sodium that occurs as a soft, light, colorless crystalline mineral, borax has a wide variety of uses. It can be used as a component of glass and pottery glazes in the ceramics industry, as a solvent in metallurgy, as a flux in welding and soldering, and as a fertilizer additive, a soap supplement, a disinfectant, a mouthwash, and a water softener. About 50 percent of the world’s supply comes from southern Californian deserts, including Death Valley.

Examples of borax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The group worked their way through borax, boric acid, salicylic acid, benzoic acid, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, copper sulfate, and saltpeter– among other things. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 1 May 2025

These hydrogels were made of a polymer net that gave them their shape, crosslinkers like borax or hydrogen bonds that held this net together, a liquid phase made of water, and salt or other electrolyte additives providing ions that moved through the watery gel as the battery charged or discharged. —ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2025

Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and borax are all trustworthy to remove color transfer on white garments. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2025

Smith made his fortune in the late 19th century by hauling borax from rich mines in Death Valley and Nevada, employing 20-mule teams across harsh deserts, arid valleys and forbidding mountain ranges. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English boras, from Anglo-French boreis, from Medieval Latin borac-, borax, from Arabic būraq, from Persian būrah

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1932, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for borax

• attacks
• backpacks
• beeswax
• callbacks
• carfax
• climax
• cutbacks
• drawbacks
• feedbacks
• flashbacks
• greenbacks
• haystacks

Kids Definition

borax

noun

bo·​rax

ˈbō(ə)r-ˌaks,

ˈbȯ(ə)r-

: a borate of sodium that occurs as a mineral and is used in agricultural chemicals, as a cleansing agent, and as a water softener

Medical Definition

borax

noun

bo·​rax ˈbō(ə)r-ˌaks  ˈbȯ(ə)r- 

-əks

: a white crystalline compound that consists of a hydrated sodium borate Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O, that occurs as a mineral or is prepared from other minerals, and that is used especially as a flux, cleansing agent, and water softener and as a preservative