noun
talcum
TAL-kum/tˈælkʌm/
A soft mineral powder used to absorb moisture on the skin.
She dusts a little talcum onto her skin after showering.
Etymology
Latin talcum could name various shiny minerals. English adopted it for talc or soapstone, and the familiar skin-care sense refers to that mineral in powdered form.
In context
baby powder is 99% talcum powder and 1% fragrance talc is a mineral made up mainly of the elements magnesium silicon and oxygen in its powdered form talc absorbs moisture well
More examples
- A light layer of talcum absorbs moisture on his back.
- The talcum leaves white marks on my dark shirt.
- He keeps a small container of talcum beside the sink.