enamel
Americannoun
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a glassy substance, usually opaque, applied by fusion to the surface of metal, pottery, etc., as an ornament or for protection.
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any of various varnishes, paints, coatings, etc., drying to a hard, glossy finish.
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any enamellike surface with a bright luster.
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an artistic work executed in enamel.
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Dentistry. the hard, glossy, calcareous covering of the crown of a tooth, containing only a slight amount of organic substance.
verb (used with object)
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enamels,
present (3rd person singular)
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enameled,
past participle, past
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enamelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
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enameling,
present participle
-
enamelling
present participle (especially British)
-
to inlay or overlay with enamel.
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to form an enamellike surface upon.
to enamel cardboard.
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to decorate as with enamel; variegate with colors.
noun
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a coloured glassy substance, translucent or opaque, fused to the surface of articles made of metal, glass, etc, for ornament or protection
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an article or articles ornamented with enamel
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an enamel-like paint or varnish
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any smooth glossy coating resembling enamel
-
another word for nail polish
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the hard white calcified substance that covers the crown of each tooth
-
(modifier)
-
decorated or covered with enamel
an enamel ring
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made with enamel
enamel paste
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verb
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to inlay, coat, or otherwise decorate with enamel
-
to ornament with glossy variegated colours, as if with enamel
-
to portray in enamel
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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enamelernoun
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enamelistnoun
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enamellernoun
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enamelworknoun
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unenameledadjective
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unenamelledadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
enamelsimple
-
enamelssimple
-
have enameledperfect
-
have enamelledperfect
-
has enameledperfect
-
has enamelledperfect
-
am enamelingprogressive
-
am enamellingprogressive
-
are enamelingprogressive
-
are enamellingprogressive
-
is enamelingprogressive
-
is enamellingprogressive
-
have been enamelingperfect progressive
-
have been enamellingperfect progressive
-
has been enamelingperfect progressive
-
has been enamellingperfect progressive
Past
-
enameledsimple
-
enamelledsimple
-
had enameledperfect
-
had enamelledperfect
-
was enamelingprogressive
-
was enamellingprogressive
-
were enamelingprogressive
-
were enamellingprogressive
-
had been enamelingperfect progressive
-
had been enamellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of enamel
1275–1325; Middle English enamelen < Anglo-French enameler, enamailler, equivalent to en- en- 1 + -amaler, derivative of asmal, esmal enamel, Old French esmail ( -al taken as the suffix -ail ) < Old Low Franconian *smalt- something melted, cognate with German Schmalz fat; akin to smelt 1; cf. smalto
Explanation
Enamel is the glossy, decorative coating that's applied to metal or pottery to make it prettier and sometimes sturdier. You might cook a casserole in your favorite pot, made of blue enamel. Enamel is used in all kinds of everyday objects, including the surface of washing machines, baking dishes, and some bath tubs. The enamel itself is made from melted powdered glass, which can easily be fused to metal and other surfaces. The outer part of your teeth is also known as enamel, and though sugar and other foods can decay it, your tooth enamel is actually the strongest, hardest substance in your body.
Vocabulary lists containing enamel
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I use a Copco enamel pot I got on eBay for rice and soups.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Rare isotopes of carbon and oxygen can bond together within enamel.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
All of this means much more time sifting through silica and wielding her tiny enamel brush.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Scientists at the University of Nottingham's School of Pharmacy and Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering created the material to imitate the biological processes that form enamel naturally.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
So Aphrodite went to Cupid and told him she would give him a lovely plaything, a ball of shining gold and deep blue enamel, if he would do what she wanted.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
But unlike in most other synthetic enamels, the researchers encased the wires in a malleable metal-based coating.
From Science Magazine ● Feb. 2, 2022
She painted it with 1 Shot-brand sign lettering enamels mixed with clear enamel and pearlescent powdered pigments.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 25, 2020
You can buy the enamels from Rust-Oleum for about $40 a can, by the way.
From US News ● Jul. 18, 2016
"Orange Crush," 9 feet tall, 15 feet wide and painted in garish, glossy enamels on a billboard-size metal panel, blows up to monumental scale a still from her high-definition video projection "Green Pink Caviar."
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2016
"But it is true that Mrs. St. Clair flirts and enamels."
From A Romance of Toronto A Novel by Annie Gregg Savigny
Using an enameled skillet, Syd shows T.J. how to brown the meat along with the onions, then adds tomato paste, explaining that caramelizing it enriches the sauce.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2025
Upstairs, the exhibition highlights 19th-century innovations, including the introduction of colored porcelain in celadon, and enameled, painted and gilded pieces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2025
The high-relief altar front of gilded copper figures with enameled halos, 7 feet wide and nearly 3 feet tall, powerfully articulates the apostles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2024
For sale: The historic Decatur Lustron, a “space-age ranch” style home built in 1949 in Decatur, Georgia, from enameled steel panels supplied by a fighter plane factory.
From Washington Times ● May 18, 2023
The enameled cans on the lower shelf were uniform and Donovan felt a cold draft about his ankles.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
At the top is an enamelled dove with outspread wings, which represents the Holy Ghost.
From Reuters ● May 5, 2023
During the excavation, a number of other items were unearthed including enamelled brooches, coins, decorated pottery and animal bones.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2021
Page is excited to point out that the table is a reflection of the design in the enamelled iron ceiling.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 8, 2018
In one, a painted floor tile was decorated with a photograph of dog shit; a toilet bowl had been enamelled in the vivid colors of the Swedish royal crest.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 10, 2017
A superb enamelled chess-board, with pieces of jasper and crystal, stood at checkmate beside the bed.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
He can describe peacocks and chrysanthemums as if enameling a Persian miniature.”
From Washington Post ● Aug. 22, 2015
Jeweler Holly Dyment's joyful black Labrador with encrusted diamond collar pendant is crafted in 18-karat rose gold and is made using a signature champlevé enameling technique.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2015
The award is accompanied by a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso that has been made unique by commemorative engraving and enameling.
From Forbes ● Aug. 30, 2014
The craft of enameling is more than 3,000 years old.
From New York Times ● Dec. 10, 2009
He had spent nearly ten years working with Eloy, the master artist, in Limoges, and studying the art of enameling on copper, silver and gold.
From In the Days of the Guild by Louise Lamprey
She also watched a demonstration of traditional enamelling and gilding by hand by master artisans before examining several pieces in closer detail.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2022
He sold his patent-rights in a bath-tub enamelling process.
From Time Magazine Archive
Dillon has pointed out that the process of enamelling had probably been derived from Syria, with which country Venice had considerable commercial intercourse.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 1 "Gichtel, Johann" to "Glory" by Various
Alfred Meyer and Grandhomme are both accomplished and careful enamellers; the former is a painter enameller and the author of a book dealing technically with enamelling.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various
The art of ancient Rome lacked the inspiration of Greece, being mainly confined to copying Greek forms and style, and in the case of enamelling it did not depart from this attitude.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various
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