pumice

noun

pum·​ice ˈpə-məs 

: a volcanic glass full of cavities and very low in density that is used especially in powder form for smoothing and polishing

pumiceous

pyü-ˈmi-shəs 

ˌpə-

adjective

Examples of pumice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 when its buildings and thousands of inhabitants were buried beneath layers of ash and pumice. —Issy Ronald, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024

With the initial eruption ash and pumice were blasted straight into the air and rained down on the city. —Hannah Edgar, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pomis, from Anglo-French pomice, from Latin pumic-, pumex — more at foam

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pumice

• lummis
• squamous
• strumous

Kids 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