/ ˈbɔːræks; NAmE / noun
[ U ] a white mineral, usually in powder form, used in making glass and as an antiseptic (= a substance that helps to prevent infection in wounds)
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from medieval Latin , from Arabic būraq , from Pahlavi (a language used in an area controlled by Persia for about 400 years until 651 AD) būrak .