pulp
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.”
How to use pulp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe soft mushy part of something, or cheap sensational fiction.
"Beaten to a pulp" is a common idiom meaning badly hurt, separate from the fruit/paper senses.
Word forms
more pulp comparative, pulped past tense, pulps plural, pulps singular, most pulp superlative
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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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