toothpaste

IPA/ˈtuːθpeɪst/
KK[tˈuθpˌest]IPA/ˈtuːθpeɪst/

toothpaste — noun

1. a soft, thick substance that people put on a toothbrush and rub over the teeth t

1.nounA1
Definition

a soft, thick substance that people put on a toothbrush and rub over the teeth to clean them and keep the mouth healthy

Example

Soraya squeezed a small amount of toothpaste onto her toothbrush.

uncountable noun: 'a small amount of toothpaste'

The dentist recommended a fluoride toothpaste to protect Elena's teeth from cavities.

collocation: fluoride toothpaste

Common collocations
  • tube of toothpaste
  • fluoride toothpaste
  • mint-flavored toothpaste
  • squeeze toothpaste
  • a blob of toothpaste
Synonyms
  • dentifrice

    very formal, rarely used in everyday speech; mainly appears on product labels or in medical writing

Usage Note

Toothpaste is an uncountable noun — do not say 'a toothpaste'. Instead use 'some toothpaste' or 'a tube of toothpaste' when referring to one container.

Common Mistakes

I bought a toothpaste for my trip.
I bought some toothpaste for my trip.
toothpaste is uncountable; use 'some' or 'a tube of'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, and tooth powder are all products used for oral hygiene, but they serve different purposes and are used in different ways. Toothpaste is a thick paste applied with a toothbrush to clean the surfaces of teeth. Mouthwash is a liquid used to rinse the mouth and freshen breath, often after brushing. Dental floss is a thin thread used to remove food and plaque from between teeth where a brush cannot reach. Tooth powder is a dry powder alternative to toothpaste, less common today. While toothpaste focuses on scrubbing away debris, mouthwash targets germs and bad breath, and floss cleans tight spaces between teeth. Most people use all three as part of a complete daily routine: they brush with toothpaste, floss between teeth, and finish with mouthwash.

toothpaste ↗mouthwash ↗dental floss ↗tooth powder

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • tube of toothpaste
  • squeeze out some toothpaste
  • a pea-sized amount of toothpaste

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'toothpaste' is a compound of the Old English word 'tōþ' (tooth) and the Latin-derived 'pasta' (dough or paste), which entered English via Old French. The compound came into common use in the early 19th century when manufacturers began selling pre-mixed dental creams in collapsible tubes, replacing powdered tooth cleaners that people had used for centuries.