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