Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🚬 A tobacco pipe 🪨 A soft mineral
meerschaum

meerschaum

1 9.9
A soft white mineral like clay used to make tobacco pipes
  • noun
  • /ˈmɪrˌʃɔm/
: meerschaum
  • He admired the intricately carved meerschaum pipe in the antique shop.

Examples

  • The distinctive white appearance of meerschaum makes it popular for ornamental objects.

  • He prefers smoking from a meerschaum pipe.

  • A century-old meerschaum was passed down through the family as a treasured heirloom.

  • The artisan carved a beautiful meerschaum pipe.

  • The artisan crafted a beautiful pipe from meerschaum, renowned for its smooth finish.

  • Due to its lightweight nature, meerschaum pipes are favored by many tobacco enthusiasts.

  • She collected various pipes, including one made from meerschaum, which is prized for its quality.

Synonyms

montmorillonite
vsmeerschaum
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A soft clay that swells when it takes in water and is used in industry

is used mainly for making tobacco pipes not for water absorption
pipeclay
vsmeerschaum
  • UK
9.9

A fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes, pottery or to whiten leather

is a more specific mineral mainly used for making tobacco pipes
sepiolite
vsmeerschaum
  • Specialized
9.9

A soft white mineral like clay that soaks up liquids

is chosen for making tobacco pipes rather than industrial absorbents

Surface Forms

meerschaum singular
meerschaums plural

Etymology

Meerschaum comes from the German parts Meer 'sea' and Schaum 'foam' because the mineral looks like white sea-foam. So the name helps you remember this soft, light, clay-like mineral.