Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous; it does not have to be eaten in order to be effective. Diatomaceous earth causes insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect's exoskeleton.
Pace, plod, trudge refer to a steady and monotonous kind of walking. Pace suggests steady, measured steps as of one completely lost in thought or impelled by some distraction: to pace up and down. Plod implies a slow, heavy, laborious, weary walk: The mailman plods his weary way.
Definition of stride. 1  1a : a cycle of locomotor movements (as of a horse) completed when the feet regain the initial relative positions; also : the distance traversed in a strideb : the most effective natural pace : maximum competence or capability âoften used in the phrase hit one's stride. 2  2 : a long step. 3  3 : an act of striding.