philosophers' wool
- noun
- /ˈfɪləˌsɑfərz wʊl/
- Archaic
:
lana de filósofo
- Artists once used philosophers' wool to create vibrant white pigments for their paintings.
Examples
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In the nineteenth century, philosophers' wool was often included in medicinal ointments.
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The artist used philosophers' wool in her paintings.
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During the distillation process, a layer of philosophers' wool would collect inside the equipment.
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Many cosmetics contain philosopher's wool as a key ingredient.
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Artists often used philosophers' wool to produce bright white pigments for their artworks.
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In various cosmetic products, philosophers' wool serves as an essential ingredient for a smooth texture.
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During the 19th century, philosophers' wool was commonly found in ointments for its soothing properties.
Synonyms
2
4.0
A white powder used in paint and skin creams to protect skin
A white powder used in paint and skin creams
A fine white powder used to colour paint and in ointments
A strong white paint used to make colours lighter in paintings and drawings
Surface Forms
Morphology
philosophers' + wool
The compound meaning 'a white zinc oxide powder' is not derivable from the constituents: 'wool' evokes textile fiber and 'philosophers'' only indicates an association or ownership, so a B1 learner who knows the separate words would not predict a chemical pigment. This is an archaic/specialized alchemical term whose sense is lexicalized and culture-specific, making it opaque to learners without prior exposure.
Etymology
Philosophers' wool comes from early chemists, often called 'philosophers', who found a soft white layer forming inside their pots that looked like wool. So that image gave the name to the white 'powder' used as a pigment and in ointments.