noun
Uncommon
pulp
puhlp
Pulp (noun) means a soft, wet, shapeless mass, especially the fleshy inner part of a fruit or the mashed fibers used to make paper. Example: “She scooped the pulp out of the melon.”
noun
1
A soft, wet, shapeless mass, especially the fleshy inner part of a fruit or the mashed fibers used to make paper.
"She scooped the pulp out of the melon."
"The mill turns wood chips into pulp for paper."
"Blend the fruit until it turns into a smooth pulp."
2
Cheap fiction printed on rough paper, known for lurid or sensational stories.
"He collects old pulp magazines from the 1940s."
"She loved reading pulp novels full of spies and mad scientists."
"The cover of the pulp paperback showed a woman screaming at a monster."
verb
1
To crush something into a soft, pulpy mass, or to reduce it to that state.
"Unsold books are often pulped rather than stored."
"First, pulp the boiled apples with a fork until they are soft."
"The machine pulps old newspapers so the paper can be reused."
How to use pulp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft mushy part of something, or cheap sensational fiction.
Common mistake
"Beaten to a pulp" is a common idiom meaning badly hurt, separate from the fruit/paper senses.
Common pairings
orange pulp
pulp fiction
pulp mill
beaten to a pulp
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Word forms
- Plural
- pulps
- Third person singular
- pulps
- Past tense
- pulped
- Comparative
- more pulp
- Superlative
- most pulp
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She scooped the _____ out of the melon.
Etymology
From Latin pulpa, meaning fleshy part or pulp.
Related words
Rhymes for pulp
See all rhymes for pulp →Frequently asked questions
What does “pulp” mean?
The word “pulp” means a soft, wet, shapeless mass, especially the fleshy inner part of a fruit or the mashed fibers used to make paper. In plain terms, the soft mushy part of something, or cheap sensational fiction.
How do you pronounce “pulp”?
“Pulp” is pronounced puhlp (/pʊlp/ in IPA).
How do you use “pulp” in a sentence?
Here is “pulp” used in a sentence: “She scooped the pulp out of the melon.”
What is another word for “pulp”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pulp” include flesh, mash and pomace.
What part of speech is “pulp”?
Depending on how it is used, “pulp” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pulp” come from?
The word “pulp” comes from Latin. From Latin pulpa, meaning fleshy part or pulp.
Is “pulp” a common word?
“Pulp” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pulp” have?
“Pulp” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, wet, shapeless mass, especially the fleshy inner part of a fruit or the mashed fibers used to make paper.
What is the difference between "pulp" and "juice" when talking about fruit?
"Pulp" refers to the soft, fleshy inner part of a fruit, including its fibrous mass, while "juice" is the liquid extracted from that flesh. Pulp is often what remains or is blended in, giving drinks a thicker texture, whereas juice is typically strained to be smooth.
What does "pulp fiction" mean, and why is it called that?
"Pulp fiction" refers to cheap fiction printed on rough, low-quality paper, known for lurid or sensational stories, popular in early-to-mid 20th century magazines. The term "pulp" comes from the inexpensive wood-pulp paper these magazines were printed on.
What does it mean to "pulp" something, such as paper or fruit?
To "pulp" something means to crush it into a soft, pulpy mass or reduce it to that state, such as pulping wastepaper to recycle it into new paper. The same verb can apply to crushing fruit or other soft materials.
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