pulp

1 of 2

noun

ˈpəlp 

1

a(1)

: the soft, succulent part of a fruit usually composed of mesocarp

(2)

: stem pith when soft and spongy

b

: a soft mass of vegetable matter (as of apples) from which most of the water has been extracted by pressure

c

: the soft sensitive tissue that fills the central cavity of a tooth see tooth illustration

d

: a material prepared by chemical or mechanical means from various materials (such as wood or rags) for use in making paper and cellulose products

2

: pulverized ore mixed with water

3

a

: pulpy condition or character

b

: something in such a condition or having such a character

4

: a magazine or book printed on cheap paper (such as newsprint) and often dealing with sensational material

also : sensational or tabloid writing

—often used attributively

pulp fiction

pulp

2 of 2

verb

pulped; pulping; pulps

transitive verb

1

: to reduce to pulp

pulped unsold copies of the book

2

: to cause to appear pulpy

3

: to deprive of the pulp

intransitive verb

: to become pulp or pulpy

pulper noun

Synonyms

Verb

• crush
• mash
• squash

Examples of pulp in a Sentence

Noun

The fruit has sweet, juicy pulp and hard, black seeds.

the pulp of an orange

I like to strain the pulp out of my orange juice.

The grain was mashed into pulp.

The boxes will be turned back into pulp and be made into newspapers.

This paper is made from inexpensive wood pulp.

He made a little extra money by writing stories for a science fiction pulp.

Verb

pulped three oranges to get their juice

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Conclave combines the pulp velocity of a great airport read with the gravitas of high drama. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024

Frank Grillo, who’s at the center of it (playing a ripped bruiser who is also…a molecular biologist!), has a way of making any pulp movie better. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Dec. 2024

Verb

Art mavens from all over the world soon were flocking to La Coleccion Jumex, where, adjacent to pulping and pasteurization vats, López showed his rapidly growing collection of works by Mexican as well as American and European artists. —James Reginato, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 July 2024

Thus began a tale of abandonment and rescue as several, successive influential admirers saved the book from pulping. —Eugene Linden, TIME, 21 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pulpe, from Latin pulpa flesh, pulp

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1683, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing pulp

• beat them to a (bloody) pulp
• to a pulp
• wood pulp

Kids Definition

pulp

1 of 2 noun

ˈpəlp 

1

a

: the soft juicy or fleshy part of a fruit or vegetable

the pulp of an apple

b

: a mass of vegetable matter from which the juice or moisture has been squeezed

pulp left in orange juice

2

: the soft sensitive tissue that fills the central cavity of a tooth

3

: a material prepared chiefly from wood but also from other materials (as rags) and used in making paper products

4

: pulpy state

beaten to a pulp

5

: a magazine or book on cheap paper and often dealing with sensational material

pulp

2 of 2 verb

: to make into a pulp

pulper noun

Medical Definition

pulp

noun

ˈpəlp 

: a mass of soft tissue: as

a

: dental pulp

b

: the characteristic somewhat spongy tissue of the spleen

c

: the fleshy portion of the fingertip