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

Soil Conditions Another method for healthy pumpkins is adding borax for calcium in the soil, infusing their fruit's greenhouses with carbon dioxide to jump-start growth and using different soil concoctions infused with mycorrhizal fertilizer. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2023

Preservation with borax and arsenic affected the intensity of fluorescence, increasing it in certain cases while dampening it in others. —Cara Giaimo, New York Times, 20 Oct. 2023

And what does ingesting borax to do the human body? —Julia Landwehr, Health, 3 Aug. 2023

To clean mold from bathroom tile grout, use the same borax or vinegar solution as before. —Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023

People are consuming borax by mixing it into water or another liquid. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2023

Furthermore, the inhalation of borax can irritate the respiratory system, leading to breathing issues. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2023

Mix one cup vinegar, two teaspoons of borax, four cups hot water, five drops liquid dish soap, 10 drops tea tree oil, and 10 drops your favorite essential oil (optional). —Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2023

The following day, sprinkle with baking soda or borax powder, scrub, and then flush. —Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2023

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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

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