: a volcanic glass full of cavities and very low in density that is used especially in powder form for smoothing and polishing
Examples of pumice in a Sentence
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The Paiute-Shoshone Indians later chipped away at the red pumice stone, which exposed the lighter rock minerals underneath, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
—
Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
The strange balls collected on some of the beaches were also found to contain the volcanic rock pumice.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Whereas in Pompeii the streets were buried under more than a dozen feet of volcanic ash and pumice, Herculaneum was hit by blazing 'pyroclastic' flows of gas and debris.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
An estimated 20,000 people lived in Pompeii at the time and many were consumed by a wave of ash, pumice and mud, freezing them in place beneath a fresh layer of volcanic sediment.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
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Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
The strange balls collected on some of the beaches were also found to contain the volcanic rock pumice.
—Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
Whereas in Pompeii the streets were buried under more than a dozen feet of volcanic ash and pumice, Herculaneum was hit by blazing 'pyroclastic' flows of gas and debris.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
An estimated 20,000 people lived in Pompeii at the time and many were consumed by a wave of ash, pumice and mud, freezing them in place beneath a fresh layer of volcanic sediment.
—Hannah Peart, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for pumice
Cite this Entry
“Pumice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pumice. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pumice
noun
pum·ice
ˈpəm-əs 
: a very light glass that is formed by the rapid cooling of lava from volcanoes, is full of small holes, and is used especially in powder form for smoothing and polishing
Medical Definition
pumice
noun
pum·ice
ˈpəm-əs
: a volcanic glass full of cavities and very light in weight used especially in powder form for smoothing and polishing
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