pulp

1 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
: the soft, succulent part of a fruit usually composed of mesocarp
(2)
: stem pith when soft and spongy
b
: a soft mass of vegetable matter (as of apples) from which most of the water has been extracted by pressure
c
: the soft sensitive tissue that fills the central cavity of a tooth see tooth illustration
d
: a material prepared by chemical or mechanical means from various materials (such as wood or rags) for use in making paper and cellulose products
2
: pulverized ore mixed with water
3
a
: pulpy condition or character
b
: something in such a condition or having such a character
4
: a magazine or book printed on cheap paper (such as newsprint) and often dealing with sensational material
also : sensational or tabloid writing
often used attributively
pulp fiction

pulp

2 of 2

verb

pulped; pulping; pulps

transitive verb

1
: to reduce to pulp
pulped unsold copies of the book
2
: to cause to appear pulpy
3
: to deprive of the pulp

intransitive verb

: to become pulp or pulpy
pulper noun

Examples of pulp in a Sentence

Noun The fruit has sweet, juicy pulp and hard, black seeds. the pulp of an orange I like to strain the pulp out of my orange juice. The grain was mashed into pulp. The boxes will be turned back into pulp and be made into newspapers. This paper is made from inexpensive wood pulp. He made a little extra money by writing stories for a science fiction pulp. Verb pulped three oranges to get their juice
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Inside the fruit is a white pulp covering the jujube seed. Johna Burdeos, Health, 30 Oct. 2024 Underneath its papal pomp and regal bearing, this thing is pulp through and through. Nate Jones, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2024
Verb
Art mavens from all over the world soon were flocking to La Coleccion Jumex, where, adjacent to pulping and pasteurization vats, López showed his rapidly growing collection of works by Mexican as well as American and European artists. James Reginato, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 July 2024 Thus began a tale of abandonment and rescue as several, successive influential admirers saved the book from pulping. Eugene Linden, TIME, 21 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pulp 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pulpe, from Latin pulpa flesh, pulp

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1683, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pulp was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pulp

Cite this Entry

“Pulp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pulp. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pulp

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: the soft juicy or fleshy part of a fruit or vegetable
the pulp of an apple
b
: a mass of vegetable matter from which the juice or moisture has been squeezed
pulp left in orange juice
2
: the soft sensitive tissue that fills the central cavity of a tooth
3
: a material prepared chiefly from wood but also from other materials (as rags) and used in making paper products
4
: pulpy state
beaten to a pulp
5
: a magazine or book on cheap paper and often dealing with sensational material

pulp

2 of 2 verb
: to make into a pulp
pulper noun

Medical Definition

pulp

noun
: a mass of soft tissue: as
b
: the characteristic somewhat spongy tissue of the spleen
c
: the fleshy portion of the fingertip

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