Skip to the word

Added 10 October 2026

pumice

/ˈpʌm.ɪs/ noun

In Latin: pūmex Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about pumice at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A light, porous type of pyroclastic igneous rock, formed during explosive volcanic eruptions when liquid lava is ejected into water or air as a froth containing masses of gas bubbles, which are frozen into the rock as the lava solidifies.

verb

To abrade or roughen with pumice.

Origin

From Anglo-Norman and Old French pomis (“pumice stone”), from Latin pūmex (“pumice stone”). Doublet of pounce.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word