BORAX
borax
(noun) an ore of boron consisting of hydrated sodium borate; used as a flux or cleansing agent
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
borax (uncountable)
A white or gray/grey crystalline salt, with a slight alkaline taste, used as a flux, in soldering metals, making enamels, fixing colors/colours on porcelain, and as a soap, etc.
(chemistry) The sodium salt of boric acid, Na2B4O7, either anhydrous or with 5 or 10 molecules of water of crystallisation; sodium tetraborate.
(sometimes, attributive) Cheap or tawdry furniture or other works of industrial design.
Synonyms
• E285 when used as a preservative
Source: Wiktionary
Bo"rax, n. Etym: [OE. boras, fr. F. borax, earlier spelt borras; cf.
LL. borax, Sp. borraj; all fr. Ar. b, fr. Pers. b.]
Definition: A white or gray crystalline salt, with a slight alkaline taste,
used as a flux, in soldering metals, making enamels, fixing colors on
porcelain, and as a soap. It occurs native in certain mineral
springs, and is made from the boric acid of hot springs in Tuscany.
It was originally obtained from a lake in Thibet, and was sent to
Europe under the name of tincal. Borax is a pyroborate or tetraborate
of sodium, Na2B4O7.10H2O. Borax bead. (Chem.) See Bead, n., 3.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition