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A noun needed for the shapeless mass of toothpaste



 
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A noun needed for the shapeless mass of toothpaste #1 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:40 am   A noun needed for the shapeless mass of toothpaste
 

Hi

I need a 'noun' for any unshaped mass, for example, toothpaste.

Quote:
1- She squeezed a _________ of toothpaste on the brush.


If memory serves me correctly, the word starts with a 'd'.

Regards

Tom

PS: Could you please tell me if the red word is correct and natural?
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2061

A noun needed for toothpasts #2 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:58 am   A noun needed for toothpasts
 

.
Perhaps you are thinking of a 'dollop' (or a smaller, almost ineffectual, amount would be a 'dab'), but sloppy people just put a 'blob' of toothpaste on their brush, while meticulous brushers 'lay a line' of toothpaste across its bristles.

PS: 'Shapeless' would be better, since there is almost as little possibility of shaping it as there is of pushing it back into its tube.
.
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A noun needed for toothpasts #3 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:42 pm   A noun needed for toothpasts
 

Many, many thanks MM

One other question--may I?

Is the following sentence correct and natural?

Quote:
1- She squeezed a dollop of toothpaste on the brush.


Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2061

A noun needed for toothpasts #4 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:49 pm   A noun needed for toothpasts
 

Hi Tom

I'd use 'onto' rather than 'on'.
.
Yankee
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A noun needed for toothpasts #5 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:54 pm   A noun needed for toothpasts
 

Hi, Amy

Thank you very, very much. Very Happy

Would you say the following sentence is over-formal?

Quote:
She meticulously laid a line of toothpaste across her brush.


Tom
Tom
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 2061

A noun needed for toothpasts #6 (permalink) Mon Aug 13, 2007 13:25 pm   A noun needed for toothpasts
 

Hi Tom

No, it doesn't sound overly formal.
You could also say this She carefully lined her toothbrush with toothpaste.
.
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

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