ENGLISH
REFERENCE

toothpaste

n. C / U
A1 Beginner US //ˈtuθˌpeɪst// UK //tˈuːθpeɪst// tooth·paste

n. a thick substance you put on a brush to clean your teeth. It helps keep your mouth fresh and prevents cavities.

n. a paste or gel used with a toothbrush to maintain oral hygiene and remove dental plaque. Often contains fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel.


SIMPLE

I need to buy more toothpaste at the supermarket.

CONTEXTUAL

Dentists recommend using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste twice a day for effective cleaning.

COMPLEX

Modern toothpaste formulations often include abrasive agents to polish the teeth and antimicrobial components to reduce the incidence of gingivitis.

Origin

From tooth + paste. Compare Saterland Frisian Tuskepasta (“toothpaste”), West Frisian toskpoetserguod (“toothpaste”), Dutch tandpasta (“toothpaste”), German Zahnpasta, Zahnpaste (“toothpaste”), Danish tandpasta (“toothpaste”), Swedish tandpasta (“toothpaste”), Icelandic tannkrem (“toothpaste”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the substance in general; countable when referring to specific types or tubes of the product.

Idioms2 entries

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