meerschaum

/'miəʃəm/

Thân thiện

The elderly man sat in his armchair, carefully cleaning his meerschaum with a soft cloth.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A white, clay-like mineral: A soft, white, porous mineral (hydrated magnesium silicate) that is easily carved when wet and hardens when dry. It is also known as sepiolite.
   • A tobacco pipe: A pipe for smoking tobacco, characterized by a bowl carved from this white mineral.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Mineral):
  • The artisan carved a delicate figurine from a block of meerschaum.
  • Meerschaum is prized for its ability to absorb nicotine and oils.
• Noun (Pipe):
  • He puffed thoughtfully on his ornate meerschaum.
  • Collectors value antique meerschaums for their intricate carvings.

Advanced Usage

• "To color a meerschaum": Refers to the process where a meerschaum pipe bowl gradually changes color, typically to a golden or reddish-brown hue, as it is smoked and absorbs tars. This is often seen as a sign of a well-used and cared-for pipe.
  • After years of smoking, his meerschaum had colored to a beautiful honey brown.

Variants and Related Words

• Sepiolite (n): The technical mineralogical name for meerschaum.
• Meerschaum pipe (n phrase): The full term for a pipe made from this material.

Synonyms

• Mineral: Sepiolite, sea foam (literal translation from German).
• Pipe: (No direct single-word synonym; described as a tobacco pipe or specifically a ).

Related Phrases

• "To break in a meerschaum": The initial process of smoking a new meerschaum pipe carefully to develop an even cake and begin the coloring process.
  • It's important to break in a meerschaum slowly to avoid cracking.

Related Idioms

• None commonly associated directly with the word "meerschaum."

Học thuật

Noun

1. a pipe having a bowl made of meerschaum
2. a white clayey mineral

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sepiolite