diatomaceous earth

/,daiətə'meiʃəs'ə:θ/

Friendly

Word: Diatomaceous Earth

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Diatomaceous earth is a light powdery substance made from the remains of tiny, fossilized aquatic organisms called diatoms. These diatoms are a type of algae with a hard shell made of silica. Diatomaceous earth is often used in various applications, including filtering materials, gardening, and even pest control.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use diatomaceous earth in your garden to help control pests.
• It can also be sprinkled in places where you want to filter liquids, like in swimming pools or for making wine.

Example Sentence:

• "The gardener used diatomaceous earth to keep the pests away from her vegetables."

Advanced Usage:

• In industrial settings, diatomaceous earth is often used in the manufacturing of products like toothpaste and cosmetics for its abrasive properties.

Word Variants:

• Diatom: The tiny aquatic organisms that form diatomaceous earth.
• Diatomaceous: This adjective describes anything related to diatoms.

Different Meanings:

• While diatomaceous earth primarily refers to the powder, it can also be used in different forms, such as granules or as a component in various products.

Synonyms:

• Diatomaceous soil
• Diatomaceous powder

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to diatomaceous earth, but you might hear people say, "to filter something out," which can be related to its use in filtering materials.

Summary:

Diatomaceous earth is a versatile natural product made from the remains of diatoms. It's used in gardening, filtering, and even in some household products.

Academic

Noun

1. a light soil consisting of siliceous diatom remains and often used as a filtering material

Synonyms

• diatomite
• kieselguhr