noun B1 Intermediate Uncommon

toothpaste

TOOTH-payst

Toothpaste (noun) means a paste used with a toothbrush to clean the teeth. Example: “Squeeze just a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the brush.”

noun

A paste used with a toothbrush to clean the teeth.

"Squeeze just a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the brush."

"This toothpaste is supposed to whiten your teeth in two weeks."

How to use toothpaste

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe minty paste you put on your toothbrush.

Common pairings

tube of toothpaste whitening toothpaste fluoride toothpaste

Word forms

toothpasted past tense, toothpastes plural, toothpastes singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Squeeze just a pea-sized amount of _____ onto the brush.

Etymology

A compound of "tooth" and "paste", named for its texture and purpose.

Rhymes for toothpaste

waste haste taste paste caste baste chaste namaste distaste aftertaste

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Frequently asked questions

What does “toothpaste” mean?

The word “toothpaste” means a paste used with a toothbrush to clean the teeth. In plain terms, the minty paste you put on your toothbrush.

How do you pronounce “toothpaste”?

“Toothpaste” is pronounced TOOTH-payst (/ˈtuθpeɪst/ in IPA).

How do you use “toothpaste” in a sentence?

Here is “toothpaste” used in a sentence: “Squeeze just a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the brush.”

What part of speech is “toothpaste”?

“Toothpaste” is a noun.

Is “toothpaste” a common word?

“Toothpaste” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.