chrome

¹ American  

[krohm] / kroʊm /

noun

1. chromium.

2. chromium-plated or other bright metallic trim, as on an automobile.

3. (of dyeing) the dichromate of potassium or sodium.

4. Photography. a positive color transparency; kodachrome.

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verb (used with object)

chromed, chroming

1. (of dyeing) to subject to a bath of dichromate of potassium or sodium.

2. to plate (metal) with a compound of chromium.

3. to treat or tan (a hide or leather) with a chromium compound.

-chrome ² American  

1. variant of chrom- as the final element of a compound word.

   polychrome.

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chrome ¹ British  

/ krəʊm /

noun

1. 1. another word for chromium, esp when present in a pigment or dye

   2. ( as modifier )

      a chrome dye

2. anything plated with chromium, such as fittings on a car body

3. a pigment or dye that contains chromium

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verb

1. to plate or be plated with chromium, usually by electroplating

2. to treat or be treated with a chromium compound, as in dyeing or tanning

-chrome ² British  

combining form

1. colour, coloured, or pigment

   monochrome

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Usage

What does -chrome mean? The combining form -chrome is used like a suffix to mean “color.” It is used in many medical and scientific terms, especially in biology and chemistry.The form -chrome comes from the Greek chrôma, meaning “color” and is the source of the words chroma and chrome, among many others. The chemical element chromium is so named for colorful compounds the metal can form.The form -chrome is a variant of chrom- used at the end of words or word elements. Chromo- is another variant of chrom-.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use chrom- article.  Closely related to -chrome are the combining forms chromato- and chromat-.

Other Word Forms

• multichrome noun
• unchromed adjective

Etymology

Origin of chrome

1790–1800; < French < Greek chrôma color; chrome ( in defs. 1, 2, 6, 7 ) shortened form of chromium

Example Sentences

While the chrome steel ball I had gotten for it felt wonderful to the touch, the surface required a little breaking in to get it to track properly.

From The Verge

Inside, the condos have open floor plans, recessed lighting, wide-plank European flooring, polished chrome hardware and a stacked washer and dryer.

From Washington Post

Kitchens and baths in white with stainless, chrome or brass accents present a clean, classic look in any house.

From Seattle Times

Ace Hardware, for example, sells a decorative lever handle in chrome and white porcelain for $19.99 in a kit that includes parts such as spacers and bushings, which allows for customization to fit most faucets.

From Washington Post

South Africa is the top global producer of platinum and chrome.

From Reuters