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Glite Dictionary
hairball formula

hairball formula

3.2
Cat food that helps stop hair clumps forming in a cat's stomach
  • noun
translation icon : fórmula para bolas de pelo
  • The vet recommended a special hairball formula for our long-haired kitten.

Examples

  • After switching to a hairball formula, my cat stopped having digestive issues.

  • Many pet stores stock several brands of hairball formula to suit different cats' needs.

  • I bought a new hairball formula for my cat.

  • Does your cat like the hairball formula food?

  • After switching to a hairball formula, my cat stopped having digestive issues.

  • The vet recommended a special hairball formula for our long-haired kitten.

  • Many pet stores stock several brands of hairball formula to suit different cats' needs.

Surface Forms

hairball formula singular
hairball formulas plural

Morphology

hairball + formula

The noun phrase is compositionally built: 'hairball' specifies the problem and 'formula' denotes a prepared product or mixture, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it is a product designed for hairballs (e.g., a cat food or treatment). Although 'formula' is often exemplified as infant feeding in the lemma, its broader sense of a prepared mixture is common cross-linguistically, making the overall meaning directly derivable.

Etymology

Hairball formula is a compound noun for a special cat food made to help with hairball problems. The name comes from the clear image of a cat licking itself and swallowing fur that forms a tight hairball, so the special formula is meant to move the fur through the stomach and 'prevent' the hairball.