paste

A soft semisolid of firmer consistency than pap, but soft enough to flow slowly and not to retain its shape. SYN: pasta. [L. pasta]

- dermatologic p. a class of preparations consisting of starch, dextrin, sulfur, calcium carbonate, or zinc oxide made into a p. with glycerin, soft soap, petrolatum, or some fat, with which is incorporated some medicinal substance.

- desensitizing p. an ointment, usually caustic, coagulating or cytotoxic, formulated to be applied to the cervix of a tooth for the purpose of obtunding pain from sensitive, exposed cementum or dentin.

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paste 'pāst n a soft plastic mixture or composition esp an external medicament that has a stiffer consistency than an ointment and is less greasy because of its higher percentage of powdered ingredients

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n.

(in pharmacy) a medicinal preparation of a soft sticky consistency, which is applied externally.

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(pāst) [L. pasta] a semisolid preparation containing one or more drug substances, for topical application; the two classes comprise the fatty pastes, thick, stiff ointments that do not flow at body temperature, as well as those made from a single phase aqueous gel.