microbeadn.
/ˈmʌɪkrə(ʊ)biːd/, U.S. /ˈmaɪkroʊˌbid/ Chiefly in plural. A tiny man-made bead-like piece of any of several materials, with a range of technical and commercial applications; (now) esp. such a piece of plastic used in cosmetics, personal care products, detergents, etc.
ΚΠ
1957 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 3389 The carbonate form of the strong-base resin De-Acidite FF micro-beads with 2% of cross-linking gives satisfactory sorption of a number of lactones.
1967 Science 15 Dec. 1463/3 This substrate diluted 1:3 with 100–140 mesh glass microbeads, silicone-treated.
1997 J-17 Oct. 6 (advt.) As well as containing a deep cleansing microbead formula and special spot ingredient, it's gentle enough to use every day.
2005 R. McNeill Alexander Human Bones ii. 46 The effect has been investigated by putting microbead thermistors (tiny electrical thermometers) into the nostrils of people and animals.
2014 M. Inagaki & F. Kang Materials Sci. & Engin. of Carbon (ed. 2) iii. 448 Activated carbon microbeads have higher capacitance than activated carbon fibers.
2016 Daily Tel. 13 Oct. 32/8 Microbeads—tiny, abrasive pieces of plastic—are used in products including cosmetics, toothpaste, detergents and shower gels.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1957