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• emery
  emery

  noun

  a granular mineral substance consisting typically of corundum mixed with magnetite or hematite, used powdered, crushed, or consolidated for grinding and polishing.
• Emery
  Emery

  noun

  a male or female given name.

emery

¹ American  

[em-uh-ree, em-ree] / ˈɛm ə ri, ˈɛm ri /

noun

1. a granular mineral substance consisting typically of corundum mixed with magnetite or hematite, used powdered, crushed, or consolidated for grinding and polishing.

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Emery ² American  

[em-uh-ree, em-ree] / ˈɛm ə ri, ˈɛm ri /

noun

1. a male or female given name.

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emery British  

/ ˈɛmərɪ /

noun

1. 1. a hard greyish-black mineral consisting of corundum with either magnetite or haematite: used as an abrasive and polishing agent, esp as a coating on paper, cloth, etc. Formula: Al 2 O 3

   2. ( as modifier )

      emery paper

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Etymology

Origin of emery

1475–85; < Middle French emeri, Old French esmeril < Vulgar Latin *smēriculum, equivalent to Medieval Greek smêri (for Greek smýris rubbing powder; akin to smear ) + Latin -culum -cule ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emery Emery

Should you want to polish metal, you’d do well to work with emery cloth.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 28, 2023

Any imperfections, any divots or ridges, must be judiciously smoothed, and a climber’s equipment includes pumice stones, sandpaper and emery boards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2021

Rule 3.01 says no player shall intentionally discolor or damage the ball by rubbing it with soil, rosin, paraffin, licorice, sand paper, emery paper or other foreign substance.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 5, 2020

The first emery deposits in America were discovered there.

From The New Yorker ● Sep. 17, 2018

Flossie clicked on the radio to soft dance music, then opened the glove compartment to find an emery board for filing down her nails.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

That gained the attention of Wrightwood Fire Safe Council President Jim Emery, who invited county officials to brief community members on the project.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

Fire Safe Council meetings usually have fewer than 20 attendees, Emery said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

Emery is waiting to see Garnacho fulfil his full potential at Villa, but the winger will have to wait until he gains the coach's trust, and then take his chance.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

Unai Emery will return to former club Sevilla, where he won the Europa League three times on the bounce.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

“Yeah, here,” Emery says, pulling out an orange card from her bag and placing it on top of my yearbook.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman