fluoride
fluoride Lexical Profile
fluoride Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A compound of fluorine combined with another element or group, especially a salt such as sodium fluoride added to water supplies and toothpaste to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent dental decay.
"The dentist recommended a toothpaste with fluoride to help protect the children's teeth against cavities."
The monovalent negative ion of fluorine (F-), occurring naturally in minerals, groundwater, and biological tissues.
"Laboratory analysis measured the concentration of dissolved fluoride in the local groundwater samples."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'fluoride' (a compound or ion containing fluorine, widely used in dental care) with 'fluorine' (the highly reactive, toxic chemical element in its pure form).
• Rhymes for fluoride
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 19th century from the element name 'fluorine' (derived from Latin 'fluere', meaning 'to flow', because fluorite minerals were used as fluxes in smelting) combined with the chemical suffix '-ide'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.