pulp
pulp — noun
1. the soft, formless matter you get when you crush fruit, vegetables, or other foo
the soft, formless matter you get when you crush fruit, vegetables, or other food until they break down completely.
Rania mashed the cooked pumpkin into a soft pulp for the baby's dinner.
crush-into-pulp pattern with food
After the storm, the fallen apples had turned to brown pulp on the ground.
turn to pulp — natural process
Boil the carrots until they are soft enough to beat into a pulp with a fork.
The pears were so ripe that they had already become a sweet, grainy pulp inside their skins.
文法句型
pulp (singular uncountable)
a pulp (singular countable)
用法筆記
Often used with the verbs 'beat', 'crush', 'mash', or 'turn' followed by 'into' or 'to' a pulp. The singular countable form 'a pulp' is common after these verbs: 'beat to a pulp', 'crush into a pulp'.
常見錯誤
2. a soft, wet mixture of crushed wood, old paper, and plant fibres with water, whi
a soft, wet mixture of crushed wood, old paper, and plant fibres with water, which is spread out and dried to make paper or cardboard.
The factory turns recycled newspapers into fresh pulp for making cardboard boxes.
recycled material → pulp → new product
Kofi watched the machine spread the wet wood pulp into a thin, even layer on the wire screen.
The pulp is then pressed between heavy rollers to squeeze out most of the water.
Alessia learned that softwood trees provide the longest fibres for strong paper pulp.
- wood pulp
specifically pulp made from trees, the most common type
- fibre mash
technical term for the fibrous mixture before paper is formed
文法句型
pulp (uncountable)
wood pulp
paper pulp
用法筆記
Almost always uncountable. When specifying the source material, use a noun modifier: 'wood pulp', 'paper pulp', 'cotton pulp'. 'Pulp' in this sense can also refer to the fibre mixture in the paper-making stage before it is dried into sheets.
3. the juicy, edible flesh found inside a fruit, which holds most of the fruit's li
the juicy, edible flesh found inside a fruit, which holds most of the fruit's liquid and taste.
Scoop the orange pulp into a bowl and save the peel for candying.
command form: scoop + pulp
Hyun prefers mango juice with lots of pulp because it tastes more like real fruit.
The white pulp of a dragonfruit has tiny black seeds scattered through it.
Eve removed the lemon pulp from each wedge before squeezing the juice into the pan.
- flesh
broader term; can refer to the edible part of any fruit or vegetable, not just the soft inner part
- fruity part
informal, non-technical way to describe the edible inner section
文法句型
the pulp of [fruit]
[fruit] pulp
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'peel' (the outer skin) and 'pith' (the white spongy layer beneath the peel of citrus fruits). 'Pulp' does not include the seeds, though small seeds may naturally be mixed in.
常見錯誤
4. the living material located in the centre of a tooth, consisting of nerves and b
the living material located in the centre of a tooth, consisting of nerves and blood vessels, that becomes sore when decay reaches it.
The dentist said the cavity had reached the pulp and she would need a root canal treatment.
medical context: cavity reaches pulp → root canal
Anjali felt a sharp pain when cold water touched her tooth because the pulp was inflamed.
X-rays showed that the infection had spread through the pulp of the lower molar.
Gabriel's dentist explained that pulp damage cannot heal on its own because the tissue has no blood supply from outside.
- dental pulp
the full formal term for the tissue inside a tooth
- nerve
lay term often used instead of 'pulp' by patients, though the pulp contains more than just nerves
文法句型
the pulp of a tooth
dental pulp
用法筆記
Almost always used with a definite article ('the pulp') or as a noun modifier ('pulp cavity', 'pulp tissue'). Common in dental contexts with 'cavity', 'infection', 'root canal', and 'nerve'. Not used outside dentistry or anatomy.
常見錯誤
5. books and magazines produced on low-cost paper, featuring thrilling but poorly w
books and magazines produced on low-cost paper, featuring thrilling but poorly written stories about crime, romance, or adventure.
The detective in Brooke's favourite pulp novel always smoked a pipe and wore a long coat.
attributive: pulp novel / pulp magazine
Pulp magazines from the 1930s sold for a dime and published dozens of crime stories each month.
The library had a collection of old pulp science-fiction magazines with colourful covers.
Andrés collects detective pulp from the 1940s for their dramatic cover art and fast-paced stories.
- trashy novel
informal, negative tone; implies the story is poorly written
- dime novel
historical term for cheap fiction from the late 19th–early 20th century
- sensational fiction
broader term focusing on the exciting, shocking content
- literary fiction
novels valued for artistic merit rather than popular appeal
- highbrow literature
formal writing aimed at educated readers
文法句型
pulp [noun]
pulp novel
pulp magazine
用法筆記
Often used attributively before a noun: 'pulp fiction', 'pulp novel', 'pulp magazine'. The term carries a slightly nostalgic tone today, as the original cheap-print magazines are collectible. 'Pulp fiction' can also refer to the genre of sensational crime writing. The word 'pulp' here comes from the cheap wood-pulp paper these publications were printed on.
常見錯誤
pulp — verb
1. to crush or press something such as fruit, vegetables, or waste paper until it b
to crush or press something such as fruit, vegetables, or waste paper until it becomes a soft wet mass.
Pulp the apples in the machine and then strain the juice through a cloth bag.
imperative: pulp + direct object
Evelyn pulped the overripe mangoes and froze the mixture to use later in smoothies.
The factory pulps thousands of tons of recycled paper every day to make new cardboard.
Tyler pulped the leftover vegetables in the blender and added them to the soup.
文法句型
pulp [something]
pulp + [food item]
用法筆記
Always transitive — you pulp something. The object is typically a fruit, vegetable, or fibrous material. In cooking, 'pulp' implies a rougher result than 'blend' or 'purée', with some texture remaining.
常見錯誤
2. to remove the soft edible part from inside a fruit, separating it from the skin,
to remove the soft edible part from inside a fruit, separating it from the skin, seeds, or core.
Pulp the passion fruit and press the seeds through a sieve to collect the juice.
cooking: pulp + fruit → sieve
The recipe says to pulp the oranges first and then add sugar to the flesh.
Hyun pulped the grapefruit halves using a special spoon with a serrated edge.
Before making jam, you should pulp the lemons and discard the seeds.
- scoop out
more general; describes the action without emphasising the result
- extract the pulp
longer phrase, more formal
文法句型
pulp [fruit]
用法筆記
This sense is less common than sense 1 (crushing). It specifically means 'to take the edible pulp out of' a fruit, often using a spoon or a juicer, rather than crushing the whole fruit. Typical with citrus fruits and passion fruit.