laminate

American  

[lam-uh-neyt, lam-uh-neyt, -nit] / ˈlæm əˌneɪt, ˈlæm əˌneɪt, -nɪt /

verb (used with object)

• laminates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• laminated,
  past participle,  past
• laminating
  present participle

1. to separate or split into thin layers.

2. to form (metal) into a thin plate, as by beating or rolling.

3. to construct from layers of material bonded together.

4. to cover or overlay with laminae.

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verb (used without object)

• laminates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• laminated,
  past participle,  past
• laminating
  present participle

1. to split into thin layers.

adjective

1. Also composed of or having laminae.

noun

• laminates
  plural

1. a laminated product; lamination.

laminate British  

/ ˈlæmɪnəbəl /

verb

1. (tr) to make (material in sheet form) by bonding together two or more thin sheets

2. to split or be split into thin sheets

3. (tr) to beat, form, or press (material, esp metal) into thin sheets

4. (tr) to cover or overlay with a thin sheet of material

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noun

1. a material made by bonding together two or more sheets

adjective

1. having or composed of lamina; laminated

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• laminator
  noun
• laminable
  adjective
• multilaminate
  adjective
• nonlaminating
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• laminates
  plural

Participles

• laminating
  present
• laminated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• laminate
  simple
• laminates
  simple
• have laminated
  perfect
• has laminated
  perfect
• am laminating
  progressive
• are laminating
  progressive
• is laminating
  progressive
• have been laminating
  perfect progressive
• has been laminating
  perfect progressive

Past

• laminated
  simple
• had laminated
  perfect
• was laminating
  progressive
• were laminating
  progressive
• had been laminating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will laminate
  simple
• will have laminated
  perfect
• will be laminating
  progressive
• will have been laminating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of laminate

From the New Latin word lāminātus, dating back to 1660–70. See lamina, -ate ¹

Explanation

To laminate is to make something, especially paper, stronger and thicker by layering sheets of clear plastic over it. You might want to laminate your flimsy library card to protect it. Today all states laminate drivers' licenses, making them a sturdy plastic card rather than the insubstantial piece of paper they used to be. You might decide to laminate a poster for a school presentation you're giving, or laminate some old photos to protect them. Most methods used to laminate involve heat and some type of sticky or adhesive substance. The Latin root is lamina, "thin slice, leaf, or layer."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

laminate laminates laminated laminating

Drivers include a strong recovery in demand for AWS Trainium—a family of purpose-built AI accelerator chips— which should materially boost the company’s M8-grade copper-clad laminate shipments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026

Mr Peck said he was disappointed by the way samples of a large piece of laminate flooring in the lounge, where it was believed the fire started, had been taken.

From BBC ● May 21, 2025

Quartz and quartzite countertops have become all the rage versus granite, marble or laminate.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 21, 2023

“We kept the original laminate floors, the chairs that only spin halfway, and after dinner we can retire to the ball pit.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2023

He sets the pan of eggplant parmigiana on the small laminate table between them.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

Elite Material is a manufacturer of copper-clad laminates and prepregs, and a mass lamination foundry for printed circuit board players.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026

Qnity also makes flexible laminates, which allow circuits to bend and fit on printed circuit boards.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 31, 2026

I walked back up the loading dock ramp with two all-access laminates, one said Bill Walton, the other said Susie Walton.”

From Seattle Times ● May 27, 2024

She also fabricated samples of thin-ply carbon fiber laminates.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 16, 2024

Ever Credit is a unit of Kingboard Holdings, a laminates maker and property investor.

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2024

It’s a foundation for target-date funds, pension models and financial advisers’ laminated pie chart.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

"A lot of these layers are laminated together to create quite a stiff structure. Often stiffer than the leather balls that were very simple and just one piece of leather."

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

There are laminated instructions in each room, including a reminder about no food or drink in the pods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026

Eavesdrop on pastry chefs with laminated dough under their nails.

From Salon ● Mar. 5, 2026

After our pictures were taken, and fresh, chemical-smelling laminated ID cards were spit out into our hands, we agreed to catch up to each other again at dinner.

From "Winger" by Andrew Smith

We are not looking for a $76 grocery bill for a single meal, a sink full of mixing bowls or several hours spent laminating and proofing dough before anyone else wakes up.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

The day before, there had been a mad dash to finish printing out programs for visitors and laminating signs for the event.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 15, 2022

And so, some people have recommended you hold off on laminating, in case you have to write a third date on there.

From Slate ● Apr. 7, 2021

By 1960 Mr. O’Neill was laminating an elastic nylon jersey lining to the neoprene foam to prevent it from tearing, and to make it easier to put on.

From New York Times ● Jun. 5, 2017

But even though the baking sun is slowly laminating me, I am happy.

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick